2-4-2024 (BANGKOK) Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew has announced the government’s imminent passage of a bill to regulate marijuana solely for medical and health purposes. This statement follows Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s recent assertion to an online news outlet that the government intends to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed surprise at Srettha’s remarks and insisted on listening to the entire interview before providing a response.
Anutin, who served as public health minister in the previous government, had advocated for removing marijuana from the national narcotics list. During the 2019 general election campaign, Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party pledged to decriminalize marijuana, allowing for medical treatment and integration into health products, thus positioning it as a potential cash crop for the nation.
Reclassifying marijuana as a narcotic would likely lead to conflicts between coalition leader Pheu Thai and key partner Bhumjaithai.
Cholnan clarified on Tuesday that Srettha’s statements may reflect personal views, but they do not represent government policy. He emphasized that the coalition had already outlined its stance to Parliament: marijuana would be utilized for medical purposes and to stimulate economic growth. Given that this policy has been articulated in Parliament, it must be adhered to.
Under current legislation, only marijuana extracts containing 0.2% or more tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by weight are considered narcotics.
Cholnan disclosed that a bill regulating marijuana’s use for health and medical purposes has been drafted and will soon be presented to the Cabinet for deliberation.
“The bill will establish a legal framework for the policy outlined in Parliament,” Cholnan affirmed. “Since marijuana is not a drug, there should be legislation regulating it in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, which stipulates that countries that do not criminalize marijuana should enact laws to regulate it.”
The proposed bill will impose penalties on individuals using marijuana for non-medical or health-related reasons.
Cholnan warned that reclassifying marijuana as a narcotic would have serious consequences, as it has been decriminalized for several years. He noted that the private sector, businesses, and households cultivating marijuana for medical purposes would be adversely affected.
Furthermore, the minister stated that the new law, once enacted, would mandate individuals seeking to grow marijuana for personal use to obtain permission beforehand.
