BANGKOK (Reuters) – Dozens of Thai cannabis advocates on Thursday urged the government to reinstate marijuana as an illegal drug, a week after the government announced a dramatic shift in policy just two years after decriminalizing it. He asked them to abandon their plans to list it.
prime minister of thailand Thretta Tabisin has pushed to allow the use of cannabis only for medicinal purposes and pledged to take a tough stance against illegal drugs, which he said are causing addiction and destroying young people's futures.
Cannabis advocacy groups met with the health minister on Thursday to urge him to reconsider the policy shift.
Prasitchai Nunuar, executive director of Thailand's Cannabis Future Network, said: “Don't bring national plants into the system, even for medical use. It's been our recipe for hundreds of years. A license is required. When there is corruption, there is corruption.”
Thailand first legalized cannabis for research and medical use in 2018 and removed the plant from the country's drug list two years ago, allowing people to grow, sell and consume it.
This has led to an explosion in recreational use, with thousands of cannabis cafes and dispensaries popping up across the country, especially in tourist areas, and the industry's value is predicted to reach up to $1.2 billion by 2025.
Critics say the liberalization was rushed by the previous government, and Thailand did not have a draft cannabis bill or clear regulations in place, leading to widespread public confusion and abuse.
Thailand has a long tradition of using marijuana to relieve pain and fatigue, and it is also used in traditional medicine and recipes. Public Health Minister Somsak Tapsuchin told the group that cannabis should only be used for medical purposes.
But many cannabis businesses say the problem isn't recreational use, but ambiguity surrounding rules and regulations.
Activist and cannabis retailer Chokwan Chopaca said: “Nothing makes more sense than a comprehensive cannabis law, which already addresses safety concerns such as child use and growth restriction.” Stated.
“We don't support Thailand's marijuana west; we support policies that support farmers, retailers, and medical users.”
(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Martin Petty)
