Bangkok: Thailand's legislature agreed on Tuesday to amend the country's drug law to allow the licensed medical use of marijuana, as well as kratom, a locally grown plant traditionally used as a stimulant and painkiller.

Thailand is the first country in south-east Asia to take such action, which is also under consideration in neighbouring Malaysia. New Zealand's government earlier this month enacted a law liberalising the medical use of marijuana, which had previously been tightly restricted.

A police officer in Bangkok shows buds of marijuana at a news conference earlier this month. Credit:AP

The Thai legislation passed its final reading at the National Legislative Assembly by a vote of 166-0 with 13 abstentions.

The changes, which become law when published in the Royal Gazette, legalise the production, import, export, possession and use of marijuana and kratom products for medical purposes.