Thailand will not recriminalize cannabis

Thailand once again finds itself at a crossroads when it comes to its cannabis policies, this time evacuating rumors of re-criminalization to move towards regulated use.

Government position on cannabis legislation

The Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul recently announced that Thailand would focus on controlling cannabis use through legislation rather than re-listing it as a narcotic. He thanked Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for considering a regulatory approach and deciding to enact legislation to regulate cannabis use.

Prime Minister Srettha, in discussions with Mr. Anutin and Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, agreed that the appropriate step was to legislate on the use of cannabis rather than reclassify it as a narcotic. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Prommin Lertsuridej, Secretary General to the Prime Minister, also took part in the discussions. Prommin confirmed that the issue would be resolved through parliamentary debate, as a bill was already in place.

Historical background and first decriminalization

In 2022, Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis, This marked a major change in the country's drug policy, under the initiative of the Bhumjaithai party, of which Anutin Charnvirakul is a member.

This decision was not accompanied by any clear regulations, which led to a increase in the number of cannabis outlets. This lack of oversight has raised public concern about the potential for abuse and the need for stricter regulation.

The Bhumjaithai party initially drafted a bill to regulate cannabis consumption, but this was not adopted on first reading before the last elections. The current government, led by the Pheu Thai party, has maintained a strict stance against the recreational use of cannabis, focusing on medical applications and research.

Prime Minister Srettha has previously announced his intention to reinstate cannabis on the narcotics list, with exceptions for medical use and research, and set a deadline for officials to draft the necessary regulations by the end of the year.

While the regulations proposed to recriminalize cannabis is currently being examined by the Narcotics Control Board. Mr. Anutin, as a member of the board, has pledged to vote against repenalization.

180° turn

The cannabis debate has also influenced political dynamics within the coalition government. Anutin recently hosted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at his resort, prompting speculation about possible tensions within the coalition. However, Anutin made it clear that this was a social and not a political meeting. Despite the divergent views on cannabis within the coalition, the Bhumjaithai Party continues to advocate the regulated use of cannabis for health and economic reasons, and opposes further criminalization.

Thailand's cannabis retail sector has grown rapidly, with tens of thousands of stores and businesses springing up since decriminalization. This sector is expected to be worth up to 2 billion euros by 2025, reinforcing the importance of regulating the cannabis market.

Bhumjaithai, the second largest party in the current coalition, insists that its support for cannabis is strictly for health and economic purposes, and not for recreational use. This party has always opposed the decriminalization of cannabis, stressing the need for clear regulations to govern its use.