60% of Thais support reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic

According to a recent poll, more than 60% of Thais support reinstating marijuana as a drug.

According to an opinion poll, the majority of Thais support the government's plan to re-schedule cannabis as a Category 5 narcotic.

See: Thailand to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic

More than 60% completely agree

Cannabis plants.

The National Institute for Development Administration (NIDA Poll) survey found that 60.38 percent of respondents "strongly agreed" with the plan and 15.27 percent "somewhat agreed."

The survey was conducted nationwide among 1,310 people aged 15 and over on May 14 and 15.

According to the NIDA poll, 14.5% of respondents "strongly disagreed" with the reinstatement of marijuana as a drug, 8.93% "somewhat disagreed," and 0.92% had no comment.

When asked what they think about marijuana:

• 53.74%: It's amazing but it's also useful.
• 33.59%: It is a narcotic with no use.
• 11.60%: This is not a narcotic.
• 1.07%: Not sure.

They were asked if they thought the government should compensate marijuana growers and businessmen after marijuana was reinstated as a narcotic:

• 46.95%: No compensation should be awarded.
• 35.03%: Marijuana growers and businessmen should be compensated.
• 10.08%: Compensation should only be given to farmers
• 2.06%: Compensation should only be given to businessmen.
• 5.88%: No comment.

Asked what kind of policies the government should put in place regarding marijuana:

• 74.58%: Ganja consumption should be allowed for medical purposes.
• 19.39%: No policies should be put in place to support the cultivation or manufacture of ganja products.
• 10.53%: The government should implement policies to support the legalization of ganja products.
• 7.40%: The government should implement policies that enable people to earn money from ganja.
• 3.21%: The government should implement policies that support the recreational use of ganja.
• 0.99%: No comments.

According to the NIDA survey, 68.93% of respondents had never used cannabis and 31.07% had used it in some way.

Cannabis expected to be reinstated as a drug this year

Medical cannabis

On Monday, May 20, Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that marijuana would be reinstated as a Category 5 drug later this year.

Cannabis was decriminalized in Thailand on June 9, 2022, after the Ministry of Public Health removed it from the list of Category 5 drugs, as recommended by the Narcotics Control Bureau.

However, it is forbidden to smoke it in public and to sell it to children and pregnant women.

The ambiguous conditions of use and the possession limit of cannabis have been the subject of debate ever since.

See also:

Is Cannabis Still Legal in Thailand? What Tourists Need to Know

Thailand's Cannabis Threat: Pro-Marijuana Groups Apply Pressure

Thailand's about-face on cannabis draws criticism

Source: National New Thailand