Bangkok’s elected civilian leader announced that he would stop selling marijuana for recreational purposes in December, shut down thousands of qualified weed stores, and impose sanctions on those who use it unless they are required to do so for medical reasons two years after a military-led government decriminalized it.
The abrupt reversal threatens the reputation of a coalition government that was elected as the party’s selection in May 2023 under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his second-placed Pheu Thai Party.
Peua Thai claims to be steadfastly opposed to cannabis, but some strong parties in its coalition support regulated outdoor use and production in a similar way to liquor or tobacco to enhance Thailand’s struggling economy.
Cannabis investors, farmers, sellers and consumers have expressed outrage and said if weed becomes improper afterwards, it would destroy Thailand’s quickly expanding, multi- million dollar, international- invested cannabis industry, which caters mainly to international tourists.
On May 16, cannabis followers held little rallies at the Phuket island Provincial Health Office and the Health Ministry to demand that the health minister of Thailand prove that recreational marijuana is worse for health than alcohol and tobacco.
The Cannabis Future Network said it will organize demonstrations in front of the Health Ministry until sufficient evidence is presented.
” Just look on the internet and you will find that there has n’t been any research showing that cannabis has a significant negative impact on mental health,” said Cannabis Future Network’s secretary-general Prasitchai Nunual.
On the other hand, there are numerous studies that demonstrate cannabis ‘ health rewards, which lead to the conclusion that the flowers have medicinal properties, according to Prasitchai.
According to Assadet Nongsang, a pro-cannabis activist,” the government has instantly said that cannabis may be put up on the narcotic list, making it illegal repeatedly and making millions of people criminals overnight.”
For decades, cannabis plant has been considered a classic healthcare in Thailand. After legalization, its properties are then taught in some universities ‘ government- backed schools of conventional medicine.
Everyone over 18 years old and never expectant who smokes marijuana is now allowed to do so, but it could get fined.
In a 2014 revolt, the military-led administration’s elected prime minister Prayut Chan-ocha removed marijuana from the Narcotics Code in 2021, putting an end to the 1935 Cannabis Act restrictions.
The plant soon became lawful for health use only, but in 2022 those restrictions vanished, allowing outdoor use.
Marijuana’s unknown constitutional position means there are no fines or consequence for hands and employ, while sales, production and various aspects are licensed.
Anutin Charnvirakul, then-minister of Prayut, advised the populace that pot cultivation on farms or at home may make them wealthy. He also handed out reside plants to anxious recipients.
Anutin’s force to allow cannabis was a winning solution for his Bhumjaithai celebration in the 2019 vote.
Anutin, who is now a strong interior minister and deputy prime minister in the coalition government, claimed a formal review of cannabis was required and panel discussions conducted before changing alcohol’s legal standing.
Peua Thai, a Srettha’s organization, and its supporters are concerned that cannabis is influencing the minds of Thai youth who shop online and order from farms that deliver goods. Pro- hemp campaigners, however, want regulations ensuring fun weed is not contaminated with pesticide or mildew.
Several partnership factions have submitted two review bills to parliament, where they are still languishing, but Peua Thai wants a new review to be agreed upon by December.
The Bangkok Post wrote in an editor that” Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s attempt to re-list hemp as a narcotic just attests his poor knowledge of the plant and the problem facing the country.”
” Allowing fun use with proper restrictions, while enacting measures to protect quasi- cannabis users in public places, may be acceptable”, the report said in an editor.
Srettha is regarded as a brave surrogate for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who has been found guilty, in jail, and is now on parole.
Thaksin’s management unleashed a “war on drugs” in 2003 which killed more than 2, 500 people in generally unsolved situation, and was one of the causes cited by revolution leaders for toppling him in 2006.
While Thaksin is assisting Srettha and Peua Thai in gaining more power, the party’s anti-marijuana stance is in opposition to those of other members of their ruling coalition who supported and supported decriminalization.
The prime minister’s demand for the prohibition of medical marijuana could lead to a corrupt system where doctors who are licensed can quickly and easily issue prescriptions to almost anyone willing to pay extra, according to critics.
They also believe that Thailand’s well-known alcohol distributors are against marijuana because customers may switch from using alcohol to smoking marijuana.
Some critics liken Thailand’s new anti- weed campaign to the 1930s US film” Reefer Madness” and its exaggerations.
Despite the lack of regulations, Thais trying to grow and sell marijuana have an uneven market, which has led to an oversupply and low prices at the moment.
Marijuana with high tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) content, which produces the drug’s effect, sells for US$ 2 to$ 25 per gram, often for the same strain and strength.
US and other foreign investors have also been involved in starting legal businesses with Thai partners, such as the upscale cookies showroom in San Francisco on the lane behind the American Embassy.
Since 1978, Richard S. Ehrlich, an American foreign correspondent reporting from Asia and the recipient of Columbia University’s Foreign Correspondents ‘ Award, has been based in Bangkok. Excerpts from his two new nonfiction books,” Rituals. Killers. Wars. &, Sex. — Tibet, India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka &, New York” and” Apocalyptic Tribes, Smugglers &, Freaks” are available here.