Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, is determined to take a harsh approach to illicit narcotics and has announced his administration’s plan to relist cannabis as a narcotic by the end of 2024. In a recent post on his social media account, he expressed his desire for the Public Health Ministry to only allow medical cannabis use. This move comes as Thailand prepares to decriminalize marijuana in 2022, with the intention of promoting therapeutic usage. However, the absence of a complete law has resulted in an explosion of recreational use.
The previous government’s failure to approve a cannabis measure has led the Ministry of Public Health to draft a new bill. Former Minister Cholnan Srikaew was confident that this bill would pass through Parliament by the end of 2024. The proposed measure aims to clearly define permitted medicinal uses of cannabis while also establishing prohibited types of use. However, Dr. Cholnan lost his position in the recent government upheaval.
The new Minister of Public Health, Somsak Thepsuthin, has expressed his desire to gather public opinions before making a final decision on the future of cannabis. He assured that this process would not take long. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha has emphasized that addressing the country’s drug problem is a crucial national priority. He expects to see “clear results” within 90 days and believes that collaboration among all agencies is necessary. Srettha emphasized the urgency, stating that drugs are destroying the future of the country and causing addiction among many young people. He also voiced his opposition to the controversial health ministry regulation known as the “five-pill rule,” which aimed to distinguish between users and dealers of methamphetamine. Srettha proposed setting the amount considered for personal consumption to one tablet instead of a small quantity.
While Thailand contemplates re-criminalizing cannabis, there has been a rapid rise in the domestic marijuana retail industry. Thousands of shops and businesses have opened in the past two years, and it is estimated that the industry could be worth up to $1.2 billion by 2025. Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of the Cannabis Future Network, warns that changing the laws again would have a detrimental impact on the economy, as it would force many small enterprises and consumers to shut down their operations. He argues that if scientific evidence shows that cannabis is more harmful than alcohol and cigarettes, it can be reclassified as a narcotic. However, if cannabis is deemed less hazardous, then cigarettes and alcohol should be classified as drugs as well.
In conclusion, Thailand’s Prime Minister is determined to take a harsh approach to illicit narcotics and plans to relist cannabis as a narcotic by the end of 2024. While the country prepares to decriminalize marijuana, the absence of a complete law has led to a surge in recreational use. The government is working on a new bill that aims to define permitted medicinal uses of cannabis and establish prohibited types of use. The new Minister of Public Health is seeking public opinions before making a final decision on the future of cannabis. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is adamant about addressing the country’s drug problem and opposes the “five-pill rule” for methamphetamine possession. The decision to re-criminalize cannabis comes at a time when the domestic marijuana retail industry is flourishing, raising concerns about its potential negative impact on the economy.