ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Thai government continues to try to find the best way to re-regulate the country’s rapidly growing cannabis industry, one of which is through drafting a draft law (UU).
That could potentially rule out plans to reverse the country’s notorious cannabis decriminalization policy after facing opposition from within the ruling coalition, namely Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
“The government will discuss a draft law to regulate the cannabis industry and wider use of the plant, or political parties can submit their draft to parliament,” said Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, the second largest group in PM Srettha Thavisin’s government, Tuesday, 23 July 2023.
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party spearheaded the decriminalization push by the previous military-backed government after making it its main election campaign.
Although details are unclear, the move in favor of the marijuana industry bill signals the end of Srettha’s controversial plan to ban marijuana just two years after its historic decriminalization. This policy is already in effect, although it has not yet received approval from the Narcotics Control Agency.
“As a council member, I vow to vote against the plan,” Anutin said.
Previously it was reported that Thai PM Srettha Thavisin would ban the recreational use of marijuana at the end of 2024. However, the government still allows its use for medical purposes.
Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to exempt medicinal use of marijuana in 2018, and then recreationally in 2022, tens of thousands of cannabis shops popping up in an industry projected to be worth up to US$1.2 billion by next year. (AT Network)
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