Thailand’s two year experiment with decriminalised cannabis is coming to an end, according to the Public Health Minister. Yesterday he maintained that most Thais want cannabis recriminalised and he plans, in his words, to make it so.
“Most operators will not have any problem but those who want to use cannabis for recreation will. The government does not want it used for recreation anyway.”
Minister Somsak Thepsutin says a survey of over 100,000 people found that 80% were in favour of recriminalising cannabis. The poll was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration between June 11 and 25.
The health minister says he plans to move ahead with recriminalisation, but adds that the final decision will lie with the Narcotics Control Board. Former health minister Anutin Charnvirakul was behind the de-criminalising of the plant in 2022 and now chairs the NCB, according to a Bangkok Post report.
Somsak says the government is in favour of cannabis use on medical and health grounds and that regulations would be issued accordingly.
Somsak claimed that cannabis use among young adults has “increased 10-fold in the 2 years since it was decriminalised”.
“The Medical Council has warned of the long-term effects of cannabis on brain growth and development in children.”
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
