The legalisation of cannabis was just back in the limelight, threatening to examine the alliance government’s unity.
What Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said to the French media just left many people wondering how long the state may last despite his conviction that unification is still firmly in place and that a government change had “never crossed his mind.”
Mr Srettha gave an appointment to France 24, a European condition- owned media outlet, in which he disclosed the government’s plan to grip in the use of cannabis, which was decriminalised in 2022. According to reports, he reportedly argued that the social benefits of legalizing cannabis outweigh the monetary benefits of making it available for both medical use and research purposes.
Minister Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, who claimed that the cannabis legalization matter was too far along, shocked the Public Health Ministry when he said his appointment had surprised the Public Health Ministry.
Dr. Cholnan remarked that while the buck stops with the top, re-listing cannabis as a narcotic must be carefully considered. Since the government’s pledges to legislature were one of the ones that it was required to follow, he added, Mr. Srettha’s private opinion was solely that of the proposed recriminalization.
As of now, only products containing over 0.2 % THC]tetrahydrocannabinol — cannabis ‘ main psychoactive agent ] by weight will be considered illegal.
While Pheu Thai was the main opposition group during the past Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, it fought fervently to have marijuana removed from the drug list.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board initiated the decriminalization of marijuana, and the Bhumjaithai Party, a partnership companion with which the Prayut state oversaw the Public Health Ministry, followed.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the president of Bhumjaithai, fought ferociously to get the plan into effect. Bhumjaithai, the second-largest group in the Prayut management, used unheard of negotiation energy to put into practice the unheard-of cannabis coverage for medical and research purposes.
Much to the pleasure of patients who require cannabis-based medications to supplement their treatment protocols, the group created a rules to exclusively permit the use of cannabis for research and medical development.
However, a complete legislation that would otherwise govern cannabis use was lacking. The Justice Ministry claims that cannabis has been extensively used for pleasure purposes and is readily available online, which encourages people under the age of 18 to test or experiment with different narcotic substances.
The cannabis power bill is currently being developed and is awaiting legislation. Since the bill is pending consideration in parliament, its passage is a tied-over commitment from the previous government.
Despite criticism from Pheu Thai, which argued that cannabis should be reinstated on the narcotics list because the controls and regulations proposed under the costs are very weak, Bhumjaithai had highlighted the cannabis decriminalization policy as its election battle system.
Some political observers were anticipating a gap between Pheu Thai and the pro-conservative functions, the largest of which is Bhumjaithai, when they decided to form a government after last year’s election.
But, concessions on cannabis were used as a precursor to the formation of the government, and Pheu Thai, the bloc’s head, was criticized for backtracking in order to maintain coalition unity.
Shortly after the authorities took the oath of office, the cannabis issue vanished, but it recently surfaced as rumors about a cabinet reshuffle started to spread.
Yet rumor claimed that Pheu Thai was considering incorporating the Democrat Party into the alliance. The Democrats ‘ participation, according to the rumor spinsters, would make the government line-up also” cumbersome” unless one of the present coalition parties was eliminated.
The most recent cannabis rumors stemmed from Mr. Srettha’s France 24 meeting, which may have caught the Bhumjaithai Party off watch.
Mr. Anutin quickly reminded the top that Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai had now put their differences at bay regarding the hemp problem. He claimed that the prime minister had already declared to parliament that cannabis use would be permitted for clinical and research purposes in a policy speech shortly after taking office.
” There’s an apparent level of quality that”, he told reporters.
A plan speech to congress is essentially a pledge made unwaveringly to the people, he said, warning that returning to the drug trade would be a complex issue.
However, Mr. Anutin declined to respond to reporters ‘ inquiries about whether Pheu Thai should return the favor because Bhumjaithai has consistently backed Pheu Thai’s premier digital wallet flyer program.
” I follow where the head of the government leads”, he said.
Do they intend to stay or leave?
With Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang hanging over his mind, there is rife rumors about how Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin did reshuffle his case.
Studies say that Mr Srettha, who continuously serves as the finance minister, may give up that role and letting his assistant, Pichai Chunhavajira, take over.
Sutin: Issues over coming
The top, however, is said to be setting his sights on a fresh double function involving him becoming defence secretary. In the change scheduled to take place as early as next month, it is widely anticipated that Mr. Sutin may be removed from the case.
The former Pheu Thai Party voter’s transition into the Srettha case has been a series of turns and turns. His position in the Pheu Thai-led state was anything but sure from the beginning.
Rumors surfaced prior to his appointment as defense secretary. He was tipped for a variety of supervisory positions, including those in education, culture, learning, and defense.
His nomination as defence secretary did not suppress the feeling of uncertainty about his position in the government because he had no prior experience with the defense or security matters. Some experts were quick to say that Mr. Sutin’s government may be in a short time.
It comes as no surprise to discover Mr. Sutin’s brand among those who are facing the knife as cabinet reshuffle discussions are gaining steam.
But Thanaporn Sriyakul, chairman of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, takes the guesswork about Mr Sutin’s tragedy with a grain of salt. Although a cupboard change can be expected, Mr Sutin will never face the trim, according to the intellectual.
Pheu Thai supporters in the Northeast are only among those who believe that Mr. Sutin can win the party’s only general election defeat to its arch-rival Move Forward Party ( MPF).
Given that Mr. Sutin has remained a member of the ruling party for so long, it is not sensible to harm the group’s help center. He has not lost an election, established his credibility as the government’s chief opposition whip, and brought himself and his own integrity to the responsibilities of defense minister.
Additionally, Mr. Thanaporn said that the rumor about Cholnan Srikaew being removed from the case is unsupported. The original Pheu Thai president is the best option for the ruling party to maintain the confidence of its followers in the North, where the MFP won in many constituencies in the 2023 elections.
According to speculation, Mr. Sutin and Dr. Cholnan will be appointed to manage the ruling party’s political affairs and strategies.
There is no justification for extinguishing them from the blog. Additionally, I’ve heard from a trustworthy source that the rumor has upset the Pheu Thai head and the perfect secretary. A true leader will not remove them from the line-up, according to the researcher.
He allegedly made reference to paroled past top Thaksin Shinawatra, who has long been viewed as the de facto leader of Pheu Thai, which is now led by his youngest daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Social observers have different ideas about who will be shown the doorway, but it is undisputed that Thaksin may have the final say in the case shake-up.
According to the researcher, Mr. Srettha does not necessarily need to hold the position of defense secretary to oversee foreign policy and national protection. As primary minister, he has the authority to oversee these procedures without the need to take on additional responsibilities or tasks.
There is also no basis for Mr. Thanaporn’s claim that Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin may be given the public health investment because Mr. Somsak is known to have no interest in the position.
Mr Somsak, public health secretary in the previous government, is believed to be eyeing the Interior Ministry, but is also apparently willing to settle for the Agriculture Ministry.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bhumjaithai and agriculture minister Thamanat Prompow, Palang Pracharath’s secretary-general, does not step down or change their positions.
Furthermore, Mr Somsak seems glad with his present job after the cabinet gave the nod to the” 100- billion- baht cattle” work to help eradicate poverty among Thai farmers, according to Mr Thanaporn.
The scheme, to be piloted among 500, 000 households in target areas nationwide, will extend a loan of 50, 000 baht to each household to buy two cows to raise on their land.
Mr. Somsak was quoted as saying that he would quit politics if the project turned out to be a flop.
Not to mention that Mr. Somsak is in charge of the Office of National Water Resources, which receives a lot of funding annually. He wants nothing more,” Mr Thanaporn said.