After the Thai government announced plans to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic, pro-marijuana groups are putting pressure on the Thai government. Meanwhile, on May 12, some farmer groups that had been allowed to grow cannabis plants before legalization in 2022 supported the government's push to reclassify cannabis plants as narcotics.
They said the legalization of marijuana cultivation had led to a significant drop in the price of marijuana due to an oversupply of products that were once tightly controlled. Pro-marijuana groups threatened to rally in front of the Ministry of Public Health starting May 16 until the Ministry of Health could prove that marijuana deserves to be reclassified as a narcotic.
Prasitchai Nunual, Secretary General of the Cannabis Future Network, said: "When pro-cannabis groups meet at the Ministry, they only ask one thing: the Ministry's scientific evidence of the health benefits and risks of cannabis compared to alcohol and cigarettes. Regardless of the Ministry's goal of reclassifying marijuana as narcotics, in whole or in part, the decision must be supported by scientific evidence.
The ministry will have 15 days to make its case, and if it can convince pro-cannabis groups, they will bow to the ministry's policy of reclassifying marijuana as a narcotic. You only have to do a search online to see (unlike alcohol and tobacco) that no studies have shown that cannabis has a significant negative effect on mental health. On the other hand, numerous studies have proven the health benefits of cannabis, which is enough to conclude that the cannabis plant has medicinal properties. ”
As for reports that the number of young people using cannabis as a recreational drug has increased tenfold since the previous government legalized it, Prasitchai said his network has been fighting for a law from the beginning to control cannabis use more effectively.
"We have been fighting for this law for two years since Prayut Chan-ocha came to power, but due to various political reasons, the necessary law will never be passed," he said. Ironically, he added, while the current government has been working to loosen state controls on alcohol sales and consumption, it is imposing more legal restrictions on cannabis.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin suggested that the government could continue to authorize the use of cannabis for strictly medical purposes even after it was reclassified as a narcotic. Saita said Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin would provide more details later. He added that despite the intention to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, the government will first listen to all parties and leave the final decision to the Narcotics Control Board.
Chairman of the Business Network of Rak Kan Community, Nong Bua Sala Commune, Nakhon Ratchasima, Montri Yiamsung-noen, said he supported the government's new stance. Prior to the relaxation of the rules by the previous administration, the network's 435 farmers had licenses to grow hemp, and more than 90% of their agricultural land was idle after the price of cannabis fell due to oversupply.
A source from a similar community cannabis cultivation business group in Sakhon Nakhon said his group took the same position. Prior to the legalization of marijuana in 2022, dried hemp leaves were sold at 10,500 baht per kilogram and an order was placed with the group a year in advance. According to the source, the current price of marijuana is only 5 to 10 baht per kilogram.
To make matters worse, he added, several tonnes of cannabis plants harvested before are still being stored waiting for buyers. Prior to decriminalization, the price of marijuana produced in the country was very high, which undoubtedly explains the fact that many sellers buy marijuana from other countries.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said a formal study would be conducted and the results would be reviewed by two or three expert panels before approving any decision to change the status of legal cannabis. Mr. Anutin is the leader of the Thai Pride Party, which worked to decriminalize marijuana under the previous government.