Thailand: Politics and Profits Block Cannabis Recriminalization

The escalating battle over cannabis in the Thai parliament means it is unlikely that cannabis will be recriminalized.

On July 23, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reversed his firm position on the reinstatement of cannabis as a narcotic.

The Bhumjaithai Party, a key coalition partner in the government, fiercely opposed the plan.

Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, who serves as deputy prime minister and home minister, warned of the economic consequences of a change in government policy on marijuana.

He said, in case the law changes again:

“Who would want to invest in Thailand?”

Since Bhumjaithai achieved cannabis legalization, many investors, both domestic and foreign, have set up marijuana and related businesses in Thailand.

Thailand's booming cannabis and hemp industry is now worth 36.52 billion baht, up from 31.75 billion baht last year, according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Economic and Business Forecasting Center.

Before the prime minister's surprising about-face, Anutin had met with the party's unofficial leader, Thaksin Shinawatra.

See: Incredible U-turn in Thailand that will please cannabis lovers

After this meeting, Srettha Thavisin decided to address the explosion of recreational marijuana use not with prohibition, but with legislation regulating its availability.

The legal vacuum persists

Anutin Charnvirakul at a cannabis farm when he was Minister of Health, now Minister of Interior.

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said four separate marijuana bills are currently under consideration, but the legislative process is moving slowly.

"That's why Thailand should first re-list marijuana as a narcotic," he added.

"However, I must respect the decision of the National Narcotics Control Board.

Let's see what he decides," he added.

On July 5, the National Narcotics Committee adopted a resolution to relist marijuana as a narcotic, but this resolution will only come into force if approved by the supervisory body.

Doctors have expressed frustration at the delay in controlling cannabis use.

Dr. Smith Srisont, a member of the Medical Council and president of the Thai Association of Forensic Pathologists, said recent developments showed that politics was standing in the way of proper regulation.

"The back-and-forth or insistence that cannabis control must be done through marijuana law means that the legal vacuum will continue," he said.

"And the public will continue to pay the price."

"Despite his claims, Anutin never really listened to what others were saying about the adverse health effects of marijuana," Smith said.

"Research conducted in Thailand and other countries shows that marijuana use has many negative effects, but he (Anutin) continues to say there is no solid evidence on this," he said.

The Dark Side of Legal Marijuana

Cannabis joint. Photo: Dadgrass

Professor Sawitri Assanangkornchai, who teaches at Prince of Songkla University's Faculty of Medicine, revealed the results of her research on Thailand's marijuana policy at a recent seminar.

She said the results indicated that one in five Thais had used marijuana, mostly for recreational purposes.

"Young people are starting to use marijuana out of curiosity," she said, adding that the herb is now easily accessible, with almost all Thais having a marijuana shop within 400 meters of their home.

Cannabis is also sold online on popular platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Line.

A study by Chulalongkorn University's Center for Addiction Studies estimates that the number of marijuana users in Thailand will reach 11 million in 2023, up from 1.8 million in 2021, before marijuana was delisted as a narcotic.

Dr. Bundit Sornpaisarn, a researcher at the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Honorary Advisor to the Youth Network Against Cannabis (YNAC), said at the same seminar:

"The number of patients seeking treatment for cannabis-related illnesses has increased in Thailand in parallel with the rise in cannabis use."

The number of outpatients (suffering from cannabis-related illnesses) increased from 18,806 in 2022 to 32,634 last year.

The number of hospitalized patients increased from 2,322 to 5,924 during the same period.

At the same time, the number of cases of cannabis-related mental disorders also increased, from 10,665 the previous year to 20,502 in 2023.

Somsak said that although the government has tried to control medical spending, the cost of treating patients adversely affected by marijuana use has skyrocketed, from 3.2-3.8 billion baht between 2019 and 2021 to 15-21 billion baht between 2022 and 2023.

Too much waiting?

Activists against cannabis legalization in Thailand. Photo: MThai

The Youth Against Cannabis Network urged Srettha to continue his efforts to relist marijuana as a narcotic, saying the promise to tighten cannabis control through a specific law seemed far-fetched.

"The re-registration effort only needs one more step," the network said in a statement.

"The development of a new law, for its part, will probably take several years at least."

Analysts believe that none of the marijuana bills are likely to pass parliament in the near future, as the current coalition government has only 314 MPs, 71 of whom belong to the Bhumjaithai party.

If this key coalition partner refuses to support a bill, it is unlikely to pass.

Analysts add that the ruling Pheu Thai party will likely prefer to reach a compromise on cannabis, given that its term still lasts three years.

The Bhumjaithai party is expected to block efforts to relist marijuana as a narcotic or tighten its control through a marijuana bill.

Cannabis growers and businesses speak out

Marijuana field.

Wittawin Vidthayanon, managing director of Salus Bioceutical (Thailand), said the country's thriving marijuana industry would take a major hit if the government reinstated marijuana as a narcotic.

"Between 70,000 and 80,000 people work in this sector," he said, adding that farmers and suppliers of equipment and seeds would all be affected.

Mr. Wittawin believes that his own company, which manufactures hemp/cannabis extracts, will suffer only minor consequences from a change in the law, as it has ensured that its products can be used for medical purposes.

Professor Arnat Tancho of Maejo University said that currently, much of the cannabis in Thailand is imported illegally, mainly from the United States.

See: An association wants to ban the importation of cannabis into Thailand

"I agree with the idea of ​​reinstating marijuana on the list of narcotics in order to better regulate its use," he said.

Currently, many community businesses in Thailand are failing because they cannot find enough buyers for the marijuana they grow.

"We have 1,000 tonnes in stock, but we can't sell them," said Saptawee Deebudcha, secretary of the Ban Na Nong Wai community enterprise in Nakhon Phanom.

Another community enterprise in Nakhon Ratchasima cultivates only 10% of its land dedicated to cannabis.

“At first, we were able to sell at a very good price.

But now we can't find a market," said Montri Yiamsoonggern, chairman of the Khon Korat Rak Gan community enterprise.

According to an industry source, in addition to smuggled cannabis, Thai cannabis growers are also facing a decline in demand, as cannabis is no longer a popular menu item.

Additionally, people can also grow cannabis at home for their own consumption.

They no longer have to buy from others.

See also:

Thailand's cannabis market could lose 10 billion baht

Thailand: Majority opposes recriminalization of cannabis

Thailand: Petition to recriminalize cannabis gets 100,000 signatures

60% of Thais support reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic

Source: Thai PBS World