Anti-Cannabis Law Draft: Political Compromise, Not Moral Outrage

[webfact]

FILE - Police stand guard as cannabis activists and entrepreneurs, holding cannabis plant gather in front of Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, July 8, 2024. Two years after marijuana was decriminalized in Thailand, nearly a hundred of its advocates marched to the prime minister’s office Monday to protest a possible ban on general use. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

The recent draft law on cannabis, proposed by Thailand's health ministry, signifies a political compromise rather than a staunch moral stance.

 

The draft aims to limit cannabis use strictly to medical treatments, official research, and as an ingredient in food and herbal products.

 

Severe penalties, including hefty fines and potential jail time, are outlined for deviations, but the specifics remain ambiguous. Notably, the draft omits any mention of recreational cannabis use.

 

Critics argue that supporters of recreational cannabis will be blamed for jeopardising public safety, promoting traffic mishaps, and tarnishing Thailand’s family-friendly image.

 

The government appears to be straddling both sides of the debate—endorsing a strict approach to drugs while leaving significant loopholes.

Such legislative tactics are not unprecedented; Thailand's decades-old laws on prostitution, although stringent on paper, have not eradicated the practice, writes Barry Kenyon for Pattaya Mail.

 

The silence on recreational cannabis is a hot topic among the country's 9,500 sales outlets, according to Weed Map.

 

On Pattaya’s Walking Street, vendors like Khun Cherry sell Thai weed for about 100 baht (or 3 US dollars). Cherry believes future registrations might occur, but doubts the government will forsake the estimated 1 billion dollars in revenue from the cannabis industry.

 

Thailand’s historical stance on drug laws has always been politically motivated. The 1979 Narcotics Act, which included up to 15 years of jail time, was partly a response to American servicemen and tourists smoking pot openly.

 

Following the 2014 coup, the subsequent military government faced overcrowded prisons, prompting the decriminalisation of cannabis in 2022 and the release of thousands of inmates.

 

Given that the 2022 decriminalisation lacked detailed legislation, the market has been largely unregulated. The current Pheu Thai-led administration, which campaigned against cannabis, now has to appease its coalition allies, particularly Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai party, which is the second-largest in the coalition.

 

Anutin aims to protect his rural constituents who benefit economically from cannabis cultivation.

 

The draft law will be discussed until the end of the month. A spokesperson for the Cannabis Future Network expressed doubt that recreational cannabis would be formally outlawed, suggesting that ganja shops might need to re-register as pharmacies or customers might sign declarations stating their medical use.

 

This could reduce the number of outlets while ensuring tourist areas and larger shops remain operational.

 

As the Roman poet Juvenal once queried: “Who is watching the watchers?”

 

 

-- 2024-09-23

 

[stoner]

 

i was quite vocal for a long time about anutin handling this....and he did. 

[kingstonkid]

[RSD1]

I can't quite work this out. Is this a win or not for cannabis users in Thailand? Will people still be able to use cannabis quietly in their home or do they need to fear that the police will come crashing through their door to arrest and/or fine them? 
 

I also wonder if there will be some unwritten line in the sand where if you have less than a certain amount in your possession then it will be overlooked, but above a certain amount and things get ugly?
 

The other question is if you are a medical cannabis user who intends to follow the law, then how will you be permitted to get your cannabis legally? Will you be able to get a doctor's report from any medical clinic and then just buy from any local cannabis shop of your choice or will you need to see a doctor at a government hospital and then buy your stuff from a government outlet only?
 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but, to me, all of the actual intent of this legislation is as clear as mud. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The recent draft law on cannabis, proposed by Thailand's health ministry, signifies a political compromise rather than a staunch moral stance.

Compromise?

They haven't changed a thing.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, stoner said:

 

i was quite vocal for a long time about anutin handling this....and he did. 

Yep! You did. Time to get stoned, to build the mountain of happiness. 🙂