Marijuana U-Turn Stirs Debate on Leadership in Thailand

[webfact]

Thepthai Senapong. Picture courtesy: Wikipedia

 

In a surprising turn of events, Thailand's Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin Charnvirakil, stated yesterday (23rd July) that the government would pivot towards legislating marijuana for medical use, retracting its earlier intention to re-criminalise the plant by the year's end. This sudden shift has prompted former MP Thepthai Senapong to question the actual influence behind the nation's leadership.

 

Thepthai, a former Democrat lawmaker, took to Facebook to express his concerns, pointing out that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had initially campaigned on a promise to relist marijuana as a narcotic. After assuming office, Srettha reiterated his commitment to this policy, aiming to re-criminalise marijuana by the end of the year.

 

However, Anutin, whose decriminalisation efforts began on June 9, 2022, when he was the public health minister, strongly opposed the move. This policy shift was his initiative under the previous administration led by Prayut Chan-o-cha, now de facto head of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party and a privy councillor.

 

The plan to relist marijuana as a narcotic was shelved after Srettha’s meeting with Anutin and Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. The consensus reached was to proceed with a legislative approach. A draft law had been submitted under the prior administration but was not voted on due to the parliament's dissolution ahead of last year's election.

 

“It will be a matter of law and debated in parliament where there is already a draft law,” Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime minister's secretary-general, said in an interview. "Whether it is a narcotic or not is up to parliament."

 

Thepthai argued that this retreat from re-criminalisation demonstrates a significant defeat of another key policy from Srettha.

 

This policy shift is thought to have been influenced by a weekend gathering in Khao Yai, where high-profile figures like de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra and party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra were seen with Anutin in a convivial setting.

 

As the government quickly addresses the marijuana issue, Thepthai's query remains: Who truly holds the reins of power in Thailand?

 

-- 2024-07-24

 

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[daveAustin]

Well it never was Srettha. He’s just an embarrassing mouthpiece. But if T really wanted it recriminalised, it would have been. 

[Jingthing]

I am not hearing from this whether or not we will still be able to buy BUDS legally from either shops or much better online.

It sounds like good news that cannabis probably won't be put back on the narcotics list but for the vast majority of us that want continued legal access to BUDS, not exactly time to celebrate is it?

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

This sudden shift has prompted former MP Thepthai Senapong to question the actual influence behind the nation's leadership.

A Thaksin deal behind closed doors.

[spidermike007]

Let me see, which way is the wind blowing today? What are my masters asking for today? What does the elite and the super toxic mega rich want?

 

Okay, now I have a sense of political direction. My name is Srettha. 

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

Well it never was Srettha. He’s just an embarrassing mouthpiece. But if T really wanted it recriminalised, it would have been. 

Nah, Anutin party plus Senators holds the majority vote.

[n00dle]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

I am not hearing from this whether or not we will still be able to buy BUDS legally from either shops or much better online.

It sounds like good news that cannabis probably won't be put back on the narcotics list but for the vast majority of us that want continued legal access to BUDS, not exactly time to celebrate is it?

 

i personally could not care less. I have had access to weed here for decades. the cat is not going back in the bag no matter what they do.

the morons had a perfect chance to generate endless tax revenue and they <deleted> it up. now the trade will just go underground again

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, n00dle said:

i personally could not care less. I have had access to weed here for decades. the cat is not going back in the bag no matter what they do.

the morons had a perfect chance to generate endless tax revenue and they <deleted> it up. now the trade will just go underground again

I care.

As expats I feel that buying underground exposes us to risks of extortion or worse.

 

[Thingamabob]

No u-turn. The use of cannabis will remain decriminalised.

[connda]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The plan to relist marijuana as a narcotic was shelved after Srettha’s meeting with Anutin and Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin.

Of course - wealthy, connect people would lose investment capital.  They can still legalize it for "medical use" and throw other common "users" into prison as well as to shut down all of the small retail businesses.

[bob smith]

the words pi$$ up and brewery spring to mind..

 

bob.

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

I care.

As expats I feel that buying underground exposes us to risks of extortion or worse.

 

 

I do not care because. legal or not, I will not be exposed to such outcomes.

 

Others can do what they want.

 

I am one of the original Anarcho-Socialists, you know.

 

 

[Andycoops]

It's just the usual Thai mumbo jumbo of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing...

[JackGats]

Again, how is this a U-turn? Cannabis has been decriminalised and will stay decriminalised. This is not a U-turn. This is continuation.

[rumeaug]

Well, legislating will be not much different than putting it on the narcotic list. I don't see the point If it's only legislated towards  medical use, research and parts of the plant that contain so little THC it would take a Bongfull of ganja the size of  an atomic silo to get your spirits barely off ther ground. 99.9% of people just consume it to get high so...