Is the decriminalization of cannabis on the cards in Thailand?

The future of Thailand’s cannabis industry hangs in the balance after a lawsuit was filed to challenge the decriminalization of cannabis in the country.

On June 9, the Thai Ministry of Public Health issued a decree decriminalizing cannabis from the list of controlled substances. Under this regulation, the cultivation and trade of cannabis and hemp have been more or less permitted. Restaurants and cafes are permitted to sell cannabis-infused food and beverages, but only if they contain no more than 0.2 % of THC. Products with higher concentrations of THC are permitted, but only for medical purposes.

The opposition has not been very enthusiastic, and Thailand’s cannabis industry has been criticized for its lack of basic controls. The opposition claims that Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has caused social problems in the country and violated local and international laws by issuing the decriminalization decree. In response to growing criticism, the Ministry of Public Health announced a new rule aimed at better regulating the promotion and sale of cannabis flowers, but the law has not yet taken effect.

On Monday, Thailand’s Central Administrative Court accepted a lawsuit filed by Smith Srisont of the Medical Council of Thailand and by lawmakers from opposition political parties seeking to overturn the decriminalization order.

The government, for its part, is expected to present its Cannabis Act, the bill that would permanently regulate cannabis, is set to be presented to Parliament on November 23.

Supporters of legalization defend their position

One of Thailand’s leading advocates for cannabis, Chokwan «Kitty» Chopaka, announced on Facebook that she and other dispensary owners would gather at noon on November 22 at the government headquarters in Bangkok to protest the trial, which could bring everything to a halt.

«I went to various clinics around Sukhumvit to invite them to participate in tomorrow’s protest, and it went better than I expected. I suppose seeing their businesses under threat can really motivate people,» Chopaka posted on Facebook, translated from Thai.

«I apologize for not being able to personally invite every clinic, and I would like to take this opportunity to invite all clinics to come and protest against the Narcotics Control Board »which aims to criminalize cannabis once again. This means that all dispensaries could be shut down."

«Those who don’t want their businesses to be shut down. Those who don’t want their investments to go down the drain. Those who don’t want to hide their culture again. Those who want to sell cannabis legally. Those who don’t want to go back to taking urine tests. Those who want cannabis to stay legal—come join us.».

ABC News reports that about 200 people turned out for the rally at the government headquarters in Bangkok. «We want to make sure these politicians don’t try to put cannabis back on the list of controlled substances. If that happens, our years-long fight will have been for nothing,» Akradej Chakjinda, a coordinator for Cannakin, a network of cannabis decriminalization advocates, told the Associated Press.

Another advocate, Soranut «Beer» Masayavanich, owner of the Sukhumweed clinic, announced that another group will meet at the Ministry of Public Health to discuss the upcoming cannabis bill with Charnvirakul.

«Our goal is to foster mutual understanding of the benefits that cannabis will bring,» Beer said. «We emphasize that the decriminalization of cannabis brings benefits to several sectors, from tourism to the economy to agriculture.»