Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on Wednesday his intentions to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic by the conclusion of 2024. Using his X account, Mr. Srettha expressed his desire for the Ministry of Public Health to introduce a regulation permitting only the medicinal use of cannabis.
Thailand, in 2022, emerged as one of the initial Asian nations to decriminalize marijuana, although the surge in recreational use exceeded initial expectations. Previous government efforts to pass a cannabis bill proved unsuccessful. The Ministry of Public Health has crafted a new bill aimed to be presented to Parliament by the former minister, Cholnan Srikaew, before the end of 2024. This bill would specify authorized medicinal applications of the plant and outline prohibited forms of consumption.
The newly appointed minister, Somsak Thepsuthin, expressed his intention this week to gather public feedback before finalizing decisions regarding the future of cannabis. He mentioned that the decision-making process would be swift.
Mr. Srettha emphasized the country’s drug issue as a critical national concern, advocating for collaboration among all agencies to resolve it and demanding observable progress within 90 days. Despite the flourishing local retail market for marijuana, with numerous shops and enterprises emerging in recent years, a shift back to criminalization could negatively impact the economy and severely affect small businesses and consumers, as stated by the Cannabis Future Network.
