Weed way to go! Thailand flip-flops on cannabis laws again

In yet another exercise of political flip-flopping in Thailand’s cannabis saga, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced plans to legislate marijuana for medical use. This unexpected move marks a significant U-turn from recent proposals to re-criminalise the plant, leaving many questioning whether the government knows whether it’s coming or going.

Thailand made headlines as one of the first Asian countries to decriminalise marijuana, in June 2022. However, this bold step was taken without a comprehensive legal framework or clear regulations to curb recreational use. The decision, heavily backed by Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party, led to a surge in recreational marijuana use, the proliferation of cannabis cafes, and mounting public concerns about its misuse.

Following the decriminalisation, the Bhumjaithai Party drafted a bill to regulate cannabis use. However, this bill stalled at its first reading before last year’s election. Anutin, who also serves as the Interior Minister, revealed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin supports legislation over re-criminalisation.

“I thank the prime minister for considering this matter and deciding on issuing an act.”

Anutin’s announcement came after a meeting with the Bangkok-born Srettha and Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. The Pheu Thai-led government has consistently maintained that new regulations will not permit recreational cannabis use.

The 62 year old Thai premier previously indicated that cannabis would return to the national narcotics list, with exceptions for medical use and research, giving officials until the end of the year to draft the necessary regulations.

Health, economic benefits

In the two years since decriminalisation, Thailand has seen rapid growth in its domestic marijuana retail sector. Tens of thousands of shops and businesses have sprung up, with the industry projected to be worth up to US$1.2 billion by 2025. Despite this boom, the Bhumjaithai Party remains firm in its stance that marijuana should be used for health and economic benefits, not recreation, and has opposed re-criminalisation.

Anutin has stated that the government will now discuss a draft bill to regulate the cannabis industry, with political parties potentially submitting their drafts to Parliament. Despite efforts to re-criminalise cannabis, the proposed regulations have yet to clear the Narcotics Control Board. As a board member, Anutin has pledged to vote against re-criminalisation.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board proposed making the changes effective from January 1, 2025, allowing a few months for operators to adapt and apply for new licences. The new rules would ban the possession, import, and sale of cannabis flowers and resin without proper licences, while parts of the plant with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, such as leaves, roots, fibre, and stems, would remain legal, reported Bangkok Post.