Chuwit Kamolvisit (left) set out on Friday on a 30-day tour across Thailand in a campaign urging the public to shun the Bhumjaithai Party because of its controversial legalisation of marijuana by ministerial fiat in June 2022, a move which has caused a backlash across the kingdom but which Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (centre) this week told the Reuters news agency was a vote winner for his party.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

Chuwit, who recently successfully contested a court order to gag his criticism and campaign against the Bhumjaithai Party, has described his latest roadshow in opposition to its marijuana policy as a legitimate exercise in democracy. He is telling the public that a return of the Bhumjaithai Party to government office would be tacit acceptance of the legalisation of marijuana while a poor showing and their removal from power would send a message that the public is not happy with the legalisation of the drug without a vote in parliament which has seen it available in over 14,000 outlets across the kingdom.

As activist and whistleblower Chuwit Kamolvisit sets out to travel around Thailand in the next 30 days urging the public to shun the Bhumjaithai Party because of its marijuana policy, the party’s leader, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was telling Reuters that the signature achievement in government of the Bhumjaithai Party was a vote winner. It comes as the Bhumjaithai Party, over the last few weeks or so, has tried to distance itself from the controversy and reverted to the promotion of more down-to-earth policies aimed at its core rural vote, such as life insurance schemes for the elderly and easy to access loans in case of emergencies.

 

In an interview, this week, with the news agency Reuters, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was presented as the leader of a party which is on the precipice of significant gains in the next General Election. The analysis chimes with a Super Poll study published on Friday which has predicted that the party may return over twice the number of MPs in this year’s General Election than it did in 2019.

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/04/15/chuwit-begins-nationwide-campaign-tour-against-bhumjaithai-marijuana-policy/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-04-17

 

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2 hours ago, webfact said:

Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was telling Reuters that the signature achievement in government of the Bhumjaithai Party was a vote winner

Which is the only reason he pushed it through.

Nothing to do with medical use at all... just vote persuasion.

24 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Which is the only reason he pushed it through.

Nothing to do with medical use at all... just vote persuasion.

Maybe so however it follows a trend in some more developed countries trying to stem drug crime.

 

Looks like the Thai's will cave in to pot +300bt judging by the super poll how anyone would vote for Anutin still remains unfathomable though ????

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Which is the only reason he pushed it through.

Nothing to do with medical use at all... just vote persuasion.

And he owns half of it doesn't he?

51 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

No. People can now grow their own weed.

Get with the program.

56 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

Yes, buy a house now and grow your own weed in the garden!

only 1 thing wrong with weed IT STINKS just like the goverment overhere

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

So true! Together with those who buy alcohol and cigarettes, and those who pay for sex or Mia noi's, and those who pay way too much for imported junk food...

Get a life man. If you don't like it, don't use it.

It’s only a vote winner for those who have invested a lot of money into the industry nobody else the average Thai cannot even afford to buy one spliff 

Mr Chuwit is off my favorite persons list.... If they do a 180 on weed now, they should keep it legally available for all the people like me, that got heavily addicted in the meantime. Otherwise we'd have to commit crimes to satisfy our needs.

No need for Chuwit and his anti-weed crusade. Current polls see Bhumjaithai Party lurching at 4 percent. No way they are part of a ruling coalition. And I don't think it has much to do with their weed policy rather than the failures during covid and the nepotism of the buriram clan

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

Silly comment. Your logic states that only people without houses smoke dope.

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

Probably the most naive comment I have ever read here.

 

Firstly because of legalization the price now is much cheaper to buy. So with all the money they are saving they will now be able to buy a house.

Secondly, they allow you to grow it now, over one million people have applied for growing permits, so those people can grow their own and with all the money saved they can buy an property portfolio.

 

Beer is more expensive in Thailand. Fresh coffee is more expensive in Thailand. "the only Thais that will be buying coffee will be those complaing later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on coffee. 

 

You can buy weed for 15 baht a gram on facebook. with the first legal outdoor crop budding now it will soon be even cheaper.

 

 

1 hour ago, crazykopite said:

It’s only a vote winner for those who have invested a lot of money into the industry nobody else the average Thai cannot even afford to buy one spliff 

Rubbish

15 baht per gram, soon to be much cheaper.

The Thais dont buy their weed from shops aimed at tourists. Those shops will go under soon. 

22 minutes ago, Goat said:

Rubbish

15 baht per gram, soon to be much cheaper.

The Thais dont buy their weed from shops aimed at tourists. Those shops will go under soon. 

I know a lot of Thai people that buy high quality cannabis, so I do notnknownwhat you base this statement on.

3 minutes ago, mooseman said:

I know a lot of Thai people that buy high quality cannabis, so I do notnknownwhat you base this statement on.

True, but most are cottoning on now.

High grade is available cheaply on the internet now. 

Supply over the next few months will totally outstrip demand.

Anutin tells Reuters “marijuana is a vote winner“

 

Smart words and nice government program for a Country where the poverty threshold is 26% and classified as a third world place ????

Edited April 17, 20233 yr by Tarteso

3 hours ago, wazzupnow said:

only 1 thing wrong with weed IT STINKS just like the goverment overhere

Horrible smell everywhere on the streets and in cafes and bars. Those who smoke it do it not behind closed doors, which i might accept, but they do it everywhere. Very annoying. And then just watch them driving home on scooters or even driving cars. As if the huge problem with horror numbers of  fatal traffic accidents due to alcohol isn't enough, now we need this too??

Edited April 17, 20233 yr by pp00

3 hours ago, Goat said:

Supply over the next few months will totally outstrip demand.

Interesting, perhaps this is why some farmers in Cambodia are now illegally growing to try exporting to Thailand (without success). April 16 2023: I have never seen media reports like this until now. This is the second recent big bust.

 

"2 foreigners have been arrested after over 10,000 marijuana plants were discovered at a farm in in Mondulkiri Province...............During the bust, police seized and burnt 10,671 marijuana plants weighing 1205 kg............Police also destroyed large amounts of growing paraphernalia"

 

 

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501274181/in-pictures-foreigners-arrested-in-massive-marijuana-farm-bust/

8 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

The only Thais that will be buying weed will be those complaining later in life they regret not buying a house and wasting their money on weed !!

Hm,..they can buy a house and grow there own weed !!!

6 hours ago, crazykopite said:

It’s only a vote winner for those who have invested a lot of money into the industry nobody else the average Thai cannot even afford to buy one spliff 

Hm,..they can grow there own weed !!!

Remember that hit song "Gordon is a moron, Gordon is a moron etc etc". Well I sing it to myself with some modifications when I'm in the bathtub having a tubby....."Anutin is a moron, Anutin is a moron, Anutin is a moron,. Anutin is a moron".

Here's a man with aspirations to be PM who scored about 2 or 3% in the most recent NIDA poll and he's telling you that cannabis is a vote winner. Time to end all the nonsense....nobody is buying it Anutin (is a moron....catchy isn't it?). This stupidity will end up costing thousands of jobs in tourist areas and all the weed shops will be shut down. Look.....Parliament didn't show top to even vote for your stupid bill...you tried to have it voted on twice and there was never a quorum. Like many others, you need hanging from a low tree and have people with baseball bats beat you like the piñata you are.