Thai U-Turn on Cannabis: Protests and Lawsuits Loom

[webfact]

Stock photo credit: openverse

 

Thailand's recent decision to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has sparked widespread outrage, threatening to ignite street protests and cause a flurry of lawsuits brought by an industry built on the promise of decriminalisation.

 

Two years ago, Thailand decriminalised cannabis, classing it as a 'controlled herb' and leaving its recreational use unrestricted. The move spurred the creation of almost 8000 dispensaries dotting every corner of the country. Yet, these shop owners now face the spectre of complete re-criminalisation with Thavisin's order to redraw cannabis as a 'category five' narcotic.

 

This change would redefine the mere act of “production, sale, import, export, or possession” of cannabis as a criminal offence under Thai drug law. Medical use would remain legal.

 

Thailand's burgeoning cannabis market, promoted as a boost for agricultural growth and wellness tourism, stands aghast. Advocacy group, ‘Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future’, has called for a protest in Bangkok on May 16 whilst dispensary owners pledge legal action. Rattapon Sanrak, owner of Highland Cafe, sternly noted: "We’re all doing everything by the book but then suddenly the book is going to change.”

 

The pubic U-turn reflects the ruling Pheu Thai Party's aggressive anti-drug stance. Recently, Thavisin set law enforcement and local authorities a 90-day deadline to crack down on drugs in 25 identified 'red zones'. Political rival Bhumjaithai Party have challenged this strategy, espousing a regulatory approach over further criminalisation.

 

The seesaw of cannabis policy, from decriminalisation to the looming threat of re-criminalisation, seems set to harm Thailand’s nascent cannabis industry struggling under legal uncertainties. 

 

The potential penalties for possession of cannabis post-reclassification are severe, with possible imprisonment of up to 15 years and fines reaching 1.5 million baht ($40,600). Industry insiders fear the move will damage foreign investor confidence, cripple the industry, and plunge cannabis distribution back into the shadowy reaches of Thailand's underworld.

 

They are urging health authorities to use science and facts to compare the effects of cannabis to those of alcohol and tobacco, and base their drug classification decisions on such comparisons.

 

Rattapon of Highland Cafe warns: “Instead of regulating the industry properly, you’re choosing to close it up and make it worse by pushing it underground." With over a million households registered to plant cannabis, the stakes are high and consequences could be game-changing.

 

-- 2024-05-11

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[bob smith]

farce farce farce.

place is a farce.

laughing stock farce.

farcical, comical, 5 star farce.

 

I don't even smoke weed but I'll be at the protests.

 

bob.

Edited May 11 by bob smith

[brianthainess]

11 minutes ago, bob smith said:

farce farce farce.

place is a farce.

laughing stock farce.

farcical, comical, 5 star farce.

 

I don't even smoke weed but I'll be at the protests.

 

bob.

Most will be too stoned to attend, thanks bob you can take my place....

[bob smith]

Just now, brianthainess said:

Most will be too stoned to attend, thanks bob you can take my place....

....you aint never seen a protest quite like a stoner protest!

 

I've been to a few.

no need to smoke a joint, 

you get high from just being in the crowd!

 

bob.

[cjinchiangrai]

Rolled out far too quickly with no plan. They need to be more deliberate in their implementation.

 

Decriminalizing users for having small quantities is not the same as opening up huge tracts of farmland to criminal cartels.

[stoner]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

Thailand's recent decision to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic

 

what decision ? no changes have been made to the law. unless i am missing something this is a completely false statement. 

[Emdog]

Should read

Thai (rulers) U-Turn on Cannabis

[ballpoint]

Like most Thai U-turns, this is a traffic accident waiting to happen.

[connda]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They are urging health authorities to use science and facts to compare the effects of cannabis to those of alcohol and tobacco, and base their drug classification decisions on such comparisons.

Compare cannabis to alcohol and tobacco?

Translated:

Re-criminalize cannabis because new studies by "health authorities" find it is as "unhealthy" as alcohol and tobacco.  Then give a nod to the alcohol and tobacco monopolies that their cartels are safe from any further competition from the nascent cannabis industry.

[nobodysfriend]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The pubic U-turn reflects the ruling Pheu Thai Party's aggressive anti-drug stance. Recently, Thavisin set law enforcement and local authorities a 90-day deadline to crack down on drugs in 25 identified 'red zones'

 

Everything was fine until Thaksin returned .

Jail him , that is where he belongs .

And his political muppet cabaret of incompetent wanna be politicians  , the international laughing stock , as well .

Thailand is scared to lose it's ' face ' , it's reputation ?

Lost a long time ago already , and now it is definitely too late to ever find it again .

Edited May 11 by nobodysfriend

[OneMoreFarang]

It is normal for governments to make laws, and something changes and later they make other laws, and it changes again.

The problem in Thailand, and not only in Thailand, is the fact that it seems just someone has this idea "let's make a law" and then it is done without much or any research. 

Why was it legalized? The easy answer is maybe to get more tourists.

Why do they think about making it illegal again: Because they didn't think clearly when they legalized it.

There is a reason why many laws in many countries take a long time from the first idea to actually becoming a law.

But with Thai politicians the way they are, there is not much hope that they do something which makes sense for Thais and Thailand.

 

[Metapod]

its been legal for 2 years and the sky isn't falling. just keep it legal

[sammieuk1]

Cannabis v Srettha or Weed v Weed when- if it ever gets to court 🤔

[bbbbooboo]

Stupid is what stupid does ! I suggest this is the only correct statement in this whole debarcle of decriminalise… recriminalise etc

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Stock photo credit: openverse

 

Thailand's recent decision to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has sparked widespread outrage, threatening to ignite street protests and cause a flurry of lawsuits brought by an industry built on the promise of decriminalisation.

 

Two years ago, Thailand decriminalised cannabis, classing it as a 'controlled herb' and leaving its recreational use unrestricted. The move spurred the creation of almost 8000 dispensaries dotting every corner of the country. Yet, these shop owners now face the spectre of complete re-criminalisation with Thavisin's order to redraw cannabis as a 'category five' narcotic.

 

This change would redefine the mere act of “production, sale, import, export, or possession” of cannabis as a criminal offence under Thai drug law. Medical use would remain legal.

 

Thailand's burgeoning cannabis market, promoted as a boost for agricultural growth and wellness tourism, stands aghast. Advocacy group, ‘Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future’, has called for a protest in Bangkok on May 16 whilst dispensary owners pledge legal action. Rattapon Sanrak, owner of Highland Cafe, sternly noted: "We’re all doing everything by the book but then suddenly the book is going to change.”

 

The pubic U-turn reflects the ruling Pheu Thai Party's aggressive anti-drug stance. Recently, Thavisin set law enforcement and local authorities a 90-day deadline to crack down on drugs in 25 identified 'red zones'. Political rival Bhumjaithai Party have challenged this strategy, espousing a regulatory approach over further criminalisation.

 

The seesaw of cannabis policy, from decriminalisation to the looming threat of re-criminalisation, seems set to harm Thailand’s nascent cannabis industry struggling under legal uncertainties. 

 

The potential penalties for possession of cannabis post-reclassification are severe, with possible imprisonment of up to 15 years and fines reaching 1.5 million baht ($40,600). Industry insiders fear the move will damage foreign investor confidence, cripple the industry, and plunge cannabis distribution back into the shadowy reaches of Thailand's underworld.

 

They are urging health authorities to use science and facts to compare the effects of cannabis to those of alcohol and tobacco, and base their drug classification decisions on such comparisons.

 

Rattapon of Highland Cafe warns: “Instead of regulating the industry properly, you’re choosing to close it up and make it worse by pushing it underground." With over a million households registered to plant cannabis, the stakes are high and consequences could be game-changing.

 

-- 2024-05-11

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Shut down all these shops and dealers and farms. Time to act now 🙏

[khunpin]

3 hours ago, bob smith said:

... you get high from just being in the crowd!

Years ago I joined crowd protests against the red shirts in Bangkok, heard bullets flying around - and did not really get "high". 

Was something wrong with that crowd? 🤔 

[DPKANKAN]

Was it not stated originally that is was solely for medicinal use only??? Not to be sold openly and smoked in and around the public?????

[spidermike007]

This is an incredible betrayal of the Thai people and the people who have invested their life savings in these shops and these businesses, and the government needs to be held accountable, and punished in whatever way possible, and to the severest extent possible. 

 

This is a flip flop of historic proportions and should never be forgotten. Ganja doesn't kill but alcohol does. So does the government of monopoly on Tobacco. 

Edited May 11 by spidermike007

[pleple]

Everything is bad here everybody go back to homelands sounds like thais liked it better in Covid times I certainly did now it blame a ferang it’s all their fault 

cry baby cry 

[Dioj]

Sheesh, AN is on a rampage today stamping out articles that are all based purely on conjecture and not fact. They must have a click-bait monster tied up in a basement somewhere, who has no access to any real news sources, and is being whipped with hemp stalks to pump out these alarmist clumps of fear mongering text faster than Stoner can twist up a fatty. 🤦🏻‍♂️

 

 

Edited May 11 by Dioj

[Dioj]

14 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 This is a flip flop of historic proportions and should never be forgotten.

A flip flop of the highest order. The likes of which the world has never seen before. In fact, I don't even know this flip flop very well. It might be a terrific flip flop for all I know. But many people have said to me that it is a very bad flip flop. The best people say that. Most people didn't even know these things. And I have the absolute right to say this. Let's make flip flops great again!

[Expat Tom]

Did you expect any less? Ship of Fools!

[AustinRacing]

It was intended for medical use? It was Anutin excuse to create a business opportunity. It’s backfiring for good reason. Close all shops. Only allow pharmacies to sell with doctor’s script. This is how medical products are sold. 

[JimboB4]

So why aren’t any of the local shops on board with this? When I mentioned it to them they kind of chuckled and knew that the pm didn’t really have the power. Btw Thailand hasn’t made any decision this is based on merely something the pm said that HE wanted to do. 

[ignore it]

A pro weed protest would be worth  coming out of the boonies to go to.

 

Even if they do the standard walk back and change nothing, can we all get together protesty like and get high en mass?

[khunjeff]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The pubic U-turn

 

Does a pubic u-turn have something to do with gender reassignment surgery? 🤔

[shavedPotter]

I would not be surprised if the border casinos are taking bets on the life expectancy of these politicians.

 

My popcorn is ready!

[dinsdale]

3 hours ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Rolled out far too quickly with no plan. They need to be more deliberate in their implementation.

 

Decriminalizing users for having small quantities is not the same as opening up huge tracts of farmland to criminal cartels.

Jeeeez do you have this wrong. It's not cartels that are farming the stuff now but it will be cartels profiting once again if it's recriminalised. Good idea. Put the money back into the hands of smugglers, generals and the BIB. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's recent decision to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has sparked widespread outrage, threatening to ignite street protests and cause a flurry of lawsuits brought by an industry built on the promise of decriminalisation.

Street protests... really?

[connda]

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Jeeeez do you have this wrong. It's not cartels that are farming the stuff now but it will be cartels profiting once again if it's recriminalised. Good idea. Put the money back into the hands of smugglers, generals and the BIB. 

Yep - but then the question becomes, cui bono?  Who exactly benefits from re-criminalization?