On July 23, a deputy prime minister announced that Thailand would move forward with legislating marijuana for medical use, signalling a reversal from previous intentions to re-criminalise the plant. This marks another shift in the government’s uncertain stance on cannabis. In 2022, Thailand became one of the first Asian nations to decriminalise marijuana without establishing clear laws or regulations, leading to a surge in recreational use and the emergence of numerous cannabis cafes and retailers, raising public concerns about potential misuse.

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, a key advocate for marijuana liberalisation, stated that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has now endorsed legislation as the appropriate course of action. Anutin thanked the prime minister for considering and deciding to proceed with legislative action.

The government continues to prohibit recreational cannabis use, and Prime Minister Srettha, from a different political party, had previously suggested re-criminalisation, with allowances for medical and research purposes. The legislation will be debated in parliament, where a draft law already exists, according to Prommin Lertsuridej, the secretary-general to the prime minister. The determination of cannabis as a narcotic will be up to the legislative body.

A draft cannabis law had been presented to the legislature under the previous administration, but parliament was dissolved before it could be voted on. It remains uncertain whether actions will be taken to restrict recreational cannabis use, as advocated by Prime Minister Srettha. The domestic marijuana retail sector in Thailand is rapidly growing, with projections estimating it could reach up to $1.2 billion by 2025.

The Bhumjaithai Party, led by Anutin and the second largest in the ruling coalition, has promoted the use of marijuana for health and economic purposes but officially does not support recreational use and opposes re-criminalisation. Nattabhorn Buamahakul, managing partner at Vero Advocacy, a government affairs consultancy, noted that the latest policy shift suggests improved coordination among coalition parties on the complex issue of cannabis compared to last year when the government was formed.

Source: Bangkok Post

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