Thailand will not re-criminalise cannabis, deputy PM says

BANGKOK - Thailand will work towards legislating marijuana for medical use, a deputy prime minister said on July 23, signalling a U-turn on plans to re-criminalise the plant and another change in the government’s hazy position on cannabis.

Thailand in 2022 became one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise marijuana, doing so without a law to govern it or clear regulations in place to prevent its recreational usage.

The move, however, prompted an explosion of recreational use, cannabis cafes and retailers, and public concern about its abuse.

Deputy premier Anutin Charnvirakul, whose party was instrumental in pushing for the liberalisation of the plant, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had agreed that legislation was the appropriate step to take.

“I thank the prime minister for considering this matter and deciding on issuing an act,” Mr Anutin said.

The government has maintained recreational use of cannabis was not allowed and Mr Srettha, who belongs to another party, had said he would re-criminalise it, with an exception for medical use and research.

It was not immediately clear whether steps would be taken to crack down on recreational cannabis use, as Mr Srettha has advocated.

Thailand has seen rapid growth of a domestic retail sector for marijuana, with tens of thousands of shops and businesses springing in the past two years in an industry projected to be worth up to US$1.2 billion (S$1.6 billion) by 2025.

Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party, the second biggest in the ruling coalition, has advocated for marijuana for health and economic purposes, but officially not for recreational use, and has argued against re-criminalising it. REUTERS