Thai PM decides to decriminalise cannabis...for now
The legislative back-and-forth could possibly be coming to an end
Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has backed down from his plan to outlaw marijuana in the country.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Thavisin, who had previously vowed to return cannabis to its Category 5 Narcotic status, instead instructed his Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin to draft legislation regulating its use.
This sudden shift comes after meeting with Thepsuthin and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who each have their own visions for the future of cannabis in Thailand.
Earlier this year, Thavisin seemed set on banning recreational use of the plant, only for former Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew to advocate for regulation rather than prohibition.
Enter Thepsuthin, who, after taking the helm in a Cabinet reshuffle, initially championed the crackdown before retreating once more under political pressure.
Bloomberg reports that this reversal aims to regulate marijuana strictly for medical purposes, research, and specific products, leaving recreational use in limbo.
Despite the back-and-forth, a draft bill to regulate cannabis is now in the works.
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Meanwhile, the Thailand Cannabis Future Network has expressed relief at the Prime Minister’s change of heart but vowed to keep a close watch on any legislative developments. The group has called for a committee to study the health and societal impacts of cannabis, ensuring that the new regulations are well-informed and balanced.
Charnvirakul, who previously led the cannabis legalisation charge, welcomed Srettha's new approach but remains cautious. He has indicated that various parties might submit their own versions of cannabis regulation bills, and the final decision rests with Parliament.
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"Whether it is a narcotic or not is up to parliament," Thavisin’s secretary-general, Prommin Lertsuridej, underlines.
The parliamentary debate will be crucial in determining whether the cannabis industry will continue to thrive…or remain in legislative limbo.
With thousands of cannabis retailers and growers waiting anxiously, it seems the only certainty is that the debate will continue until the ink is dry on the new legislation.
Via Asia News Network & Benar News
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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