The interests of the cannabis sector in Thailand will be preserved

The Move Forward Party (MFP) has reassured cannabis growers and business owners that their interests will be protected even if the drug is reclassified as a narcotic.

Following the MPF's victory in Thailand's last general election, there was uncertainty about what would become of cannabis growers and sellers, given that both major victorious parties had announced that they wanted to reinstate cannabis as a narcotic.

See: Cannabis to become illegal again in Thailand

MFP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun explained that the party's main objective in reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic is to enable state officials, including the police and the Narcotics Control Board, to fully control drug abuse.

Sirikanya Tansakun said new laws would be implemented to regulate the use, production, cultivation, import and export of drugs, something the interim government had failed to do.

She insisted that registered cannabis businesses and marijuana growers will continue to be protected and allowed to operate as long as they have the necessary permits.

The statement comes in response to concerns raised by commercial cannabis operators and growers after the MFP committed to re-listing the drug as a narcotic in a memorandum of understanding signed with seven potential coalition partners.

Sirikanya assured that further discussions on the issue will take place among coalition partners when the new coalition is formed before any changes to the current legal measures controlling cannabis are proposed and implemented.

Prasitchai Nunual, secretary general of a civic group called Network Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future, posted an open letter on Facebook addressed to MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

The group urges Limjaroenrat to approach the issue democratically, arguing that re-listing the drug would have a negative impact on medical cannabis.

Mr. Prasitchai called on the newly elected government to engage in more open and serious discussions on cannabis, as public perception has been affected by aggressive anti-cannabis campaigns led by the two popular political parties, the MFP and Pheu Thai.

He also suggested that all relevant parties be allowed to participate in discussions to determine the most appropriate legal mechanisms for better control of cannabis.

Source: The Thaiger