Thai Cannabis Advocacy Groups Urge Public Health Minister to Reconsider Cannabis Criminalization

National—

On May 16th, 2024, Mr. Prasitchai Nunual, the secretary-general of the network for Shaping the Future of Thai Cannabis, and representatives from various sectors submitted a letter to Thai Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsuthin for reconsideration of the criminalization of cannabis.

The letter was proposed to the Ministry of Public Health for deliberation on whether to reclassify cannabis into a narcotic illegal drug or enact a Cannabis Control bill, according to Thai national media.

Furthermore, the marijuana advocacy groups presented the Thai Ministry of Public Health to release public statistical and scientifically factual information comparing the pros and cons of cannabis, alcoholic beverages, and cigarettes with an unbiased people-chosen committee to listen to opinions and summarize information thoroughly, Thai national media reported.

TPN covered the full story regarding the Thai Prime Minister’s proposal to criminalize and restrict the use of cannabis, raising concerns among pro-cannabis supporters.

The Minister of Public Health publicly revealed that he agreed to the use of cannabis for medical, health, and economic values according to universal standards. Cannabis should be used for medical purposes only and he had never acknowledged the use for recreational purposes since it was first legalized in 2022, said Somsak.

Meanwhile, marijuana advocacy groups from business operators to cannabis users submitted letters to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to reconsider the relist of cannabis into a narcotic drug at public health departments in various provinces including Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chonburi, and Buriram, according to Thai national media.

The marijuana advocacy groups proposed the Thai government to draft a cannabis bill and establish a Cannabis Department as the main agency for regulating legal cannabis to create uniform standards throughout the country, reported Thai national media.

Furthermore, the groups also presented scientific research studies on the benefit of using cannabis and its value in the economy which generates a huge sum of revenue for the country. The groups asked the Thai government to deliberate on the information before deciding to relist cannabis into a narcotic illegal drug, according to Thai national media.

They also suggested the possibility of a public referendum or to allow individual areas, like Phuket or Pattaya, to decide if Cannabis should be legal overall.