National—
On May 28th, 2024, Mr. Wisarat Phanprasat, the head of the Western Herbal Community Business Network in Kanchanaburi, alongside over 1,000 cannabis supporters, submitted a draft of the People’s Cannabis Act and a petition to the Thai Prime Minister in front of the United Nations in Bangkok.
Their primary demand was to oppose the classification of cannabis as a narcotic drug, which would essentially recriminalize it.
Wisarat, who also serves as the President of the Thai Medical Cannabis Industry Community, emphasized that his network includes over 450 community enterprises across Thailand. This network, one of the largest of its kind in the country, is legally permitted to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes.
In his public statement, Wisarat expressed strong opposition to the reclassification of cannabis as an illegal narcotic. He warned that such a move could lead to unemployment for Thai traditional medicine doctors, who rely on cannabis for their treatments, unlike modern doctors who have access to other cannabis-derived medicinal substances.
Wisarat highlighted the significant economic commitments made by the Cannabis Industry Community, including an MOU signed with the European Union and an investment exceeding 40 million baht in the cannabis business.
The community encompasses over 450 enterprises with more than 10,000 members. He personally invested over 2 billion baht in cannabis farms, navigating a 14-month approval process by the Narcotics Committee and the FDA to secure legal permissions for the cannabis business.
He stressed that the community is willing to comply with all government regulations and criteria. However, he urged the government to support their efforts and take decisive action against illegally imported cannabis buds.
In conclusion, Wisarat pleaded with the government to reconsider the reclassification proposal, emphasizing the economic value of cannabis, the support from its advocates, and the rights of those legally cultivating it.
