While the government of Thailand works on a comprehensive cannabis law, some are demanding that the drug be classified again as illegal.
Recently, the Narcotics Control Board convened under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam. Pre-meeting, he had already stated that he did not think it was essential to reevaluate the Ministry of Health’s declaration on cannabis regulation. He said that the long-standing law on which the declaration was based had been in effect for over two decades.
In the case of cannabis, Dr. Wissanu claims the legislation has been correctly enforced to avoid its misuse. He also mentioned that cannabis is a licensed plant and that the education ministry’s laws already govern sales on school grounds, therefore the health ministry’s declaration didn’t apply to them.
Suthin Klangsaeng, chief whip of the opposition, gave an explanation as to why the opposition had filed a petition with the court to overturn the health ministry’s declaration. He said that, while Thailand waits for the master legislation for cannabis management, re-labeling cannabis as a narcotic will help deter its overuse in the meantime. He also noted that he did not have any idea of when Parliament would vote on the measure.
And members of parliament from the Bhumjaithai Party have spoken out against the opposition’s push to reschedule cannabis as a narcotic, calling it a “politically driven” action. They also warned of the severe consequences for those who have begun cannabis cultivation.
