Party ‘ has proper’ to resist weed relisting
Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of the Bhumjaithai ( BJT) party, acknowledged speaking with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin about the party’s concerns over the government’s plan to re-list marijuana as a narcotic.
Mr. Anutin claimed he had informed Mr. Srettha that the plan, which has been forwarded to the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) for further discussion on July 23 ), lacks compelling evidence that supports the plant’s re-criminalization.
He therefore demanded that the prime minister conduct additional investigation before re-inspecting marijuana as a opiate.
Mr. Anutin said in a press conference on Thursday that Mr. Anutin was perplexed by the president’s U-turn on the topic, noting that the commission that is pushing for the decriminalization of marijuana is made up of the same individuals who opposed it two years ago.
He urged the council people to adhere to their guidelines and explain to Somsak Thepsutin, the spokesperson for public health, why cannabis should be removed from the controlled substance list.
The Bhumjaithai president, who is also a deputy prime minister, added that he had also informed Mr. Srettha that ministers and organizations under his group’s power had the right to reject the drive when the NCB appoints to discuss the matter.
He claimed that Mr. Srettha stated that he was open to further discussions and to take into account Bhumjaithai’s issues regarding the cannabis relisting plan.
Mr. Anutin added that he was optimistic that these divergences in viewpoints could still be resolved through dialogue and that Bhumjaithai’s objection should n’t be seen as a rift between the party and Pheu Thai.
In yet another development, the NCB’s headquarters on Thursday hosted a petition urging the board to re-list the plant as a narcotic. Youth Network Against Cannabis ( YNAC ) and several other health advocacy groups gathered at the NCB’s headquarters on Thursday to sign a petition.
The plea was co-signed by 200, 000 people who are opposed to the decriminalisation of the flower, said Dr Smith Srisont, an associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Mahidol University at Ramathibodi Hospital, who joined today’s meeting at the NCB’s business.
According to the dentist, cannabis use is linked to a higher risk of addiction and mental issues, according to a study released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Nevertheless, activists who oppose the government’s plan to meet at Government House on Friday to file a petition to ask them to evaluate the move.
The group is led by Parnthep Pourpongpan, dean of the College of Oriental Medicine at Rangsit University, Prof Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, an assistant to the same school, and Rosana Tositrakul, a former legislator.