FILE--A customer sits outside a cannabis shop in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand, July 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

 

BANGKOK –  Thai cannabis supporters are gearing up for a mass rally on 7 July at the Ministry of Public Health's headquarters. The protest opposes the government's plan to recriminalise cannabis, three years after its removal from the narcotics list.

 

The Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network has slammed Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin's vow to reclassify cannabis within 45 days. This comes after his coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party—key to cannabis liberalisation—exited the government.

 

The network accused Mr Somsak of politically motivated actions against Bhumjaithai. It noted his previous unsuccessful attempt to reclassify cannabis and inaction thereafter, questioning his sudden urgency following Bhumjaithai's departure.

 

Mr Somsak recently intensified his stance, citing public complaints and issuing new directives on cannabis enforcement. However, the network pointed out inconsistencies in his approach, questioning why immediate action wasn’t taken earlier if the plant posed such dangers.

 

The new regulations replace existing protections, like the ban on sales to those under 20, with a requirement for medical prescriptions. Advocates argue this change weakens safeguards, potentially increasing access for youths while giving medical professionals monopolistic control.

 

The network demands two urgent actions: amend the recent announcement to ensure public access under strict regulation, and stop efforts to relist cannabis as a narcotic. It urges advancing the Cannabis-Hemp Act, introduced by a former minister of the same party.

 

Supporters are called to join the protest on 7 July at 1pm, with promises of ongoing actions until the Cannabis Act is legislated by Parliament.

 

The upcoming rally highlights tensions between political factions on this hot-button issue, with potential implications for Thailand's budding cannabis industry.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-26

 

 

Yellow Shirts and Red Shirts have had their day. Let's see what the Green Shirts can accomplish 😉

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai cannabis supporters are gearing up for a mass rally on 7 July at the Ministry of Public Health's headquarters. The protest opposes the government's plan to recriminalise cannabis, three years after its removal from the narcotics list.

Medical use only seems to be fair enough, Thailand has enough to deal with without dope heads running around on the loose.

Let protesters and Government people get together in Lumphini Park. Get them entertained as in times of Woodstock. Let them smoke medical cannabis and trust me, they will find a proper solution, which both sides can live very well with it. 

How many years in prison now for a small bag? Say about two hundred bahtsworth? Will it be back to the same silly sentences as before?

They really should let us know. And what are the man hours wasted on this? And what will it cost? And how much money WILL BE LOST? And how many people will lose their jobs?

If they were to recriminalize ganja it would represent an enormous betrayal on the part of the Thai government. Billions upon billions have been invested in cannabis shops and operations mostly by relatively youthful Thais, giving them some sort of promise toward the future. This would not only a betrayal of that trust that they put in the government, but a massive step backwards for Thailand.

 

Alcohol and tobacco are infinitely more harmful than ganja and the fake Puritans are making a big deal about nothing. 

56 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Medical use only seems to be fair enough, Thailand has enough to deal with without dope heads running around on the loose.

Medical use LOL. Isn't that how morphine and heroin are used? For medical use? But it didn't really work out; did it?

14 minutes ago, Beat666 said:

Let protesters and Government people get together in Lumphini Park. Get them entertained as in times of Woodstock. Let them smoke medical cannabis and trust me, they will find a proper solution, which both sides can live very well with it. 

Yeah, let the police play their song 😂

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Medical use only seems to be fair enough, Thailand has enough to deal with without dope heads running around on the loose.

Cool. Ban weed AND alcohol. But as long as you and others want to have your booze, I want my weed. Thanks.

About time they got rid of that crap, sick of walkng round the streets stinking of cannabis everyday, hopefully the 24 hour shop opposite my condo will close, sick of the smell and the deadbeats who hang around outside the shop all day and night, good riddance, should never have legalised it in the first place

 

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Medical use only seems to be fair enough, Thailand has enough to deal with without dope heads running around on the loose.

no dope heads I know are inclined to run anywhere myself included

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Supporters are called to join the protest on 7 July at 1pm, with promises of ongoing actions until the Cannabis Act is legislated by Parliament.

It would have been an earlier start, but the protesters didn't want to show up while still high.

15 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Medical use LOL. Isn't that how morphine and heroin are used? For medical use? But it didn't really work out; did it?

Neither will cannabis

15 hours ago, Beat666 said:

Let protesters and Government people get together in Lumphini Park. Get them entertained as in times of Woodstock. Let them smoke medical cannabis and trust me, they will find a proper solution, which both sides can live very well with it. 

Another hippy relying on the 1970s Woodstock era myth of marijuana is harmless. It's not!!!..it's a dangerous mind altering drug that causes abnormal behaviour in it's users...including physcotic episodes which can lead to violence. No wonder there is so many violent outbursts each day in Phuket and Pattaya

14 hours ago, LukKrueng said:

Cool. Ban weed AND alcohol. But as long as you and others want to have your booze, I want my weed. Thanks.

Totally absurd comparison, weed has many health, mental and side effects...you are living in a different era to buying an eighth of moroccan black off chalky 

15 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Another hippy relying on the 1970s Woodstock era myth of marijuana is harmless. It's not!!!..it's a dangerous mind altering drug that causes abnormal behaviour in it's users...including physcotic episodes which can lead to violence. No wonder there is so many violent outbursts each day in Phuket and Pattaya

 

72 years young, smoked various forms of Ganga for 57 years, you are clueless.

48 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

72 years young, smoked various forms of Ganga for 57 years, you are clueless.

No I am not...it's your muddled brain that thinks you are OK.. exactly the same as when you want to ride a motorcycle when stoned, or see some guy touch your Mrs when he didn't and start a fight...a bit of black morrocan wasn't that bad but the strength of weed now is a mind altering drug..enjoy you fazed day

10 minutes ago, baansgr said:

No I am not...it's your muddled brain that thinks you are OK.. exactly the same as when you want to ride a motorcycle when stoned, or see some guy touch your Mrs when he didn't and start a fight...a bit of black morrocan wasn't that bad but the strength of weed now is a mind altering drug..enjoy you fazed day

 

I avoid motorbikes, good luck to anybody trying to touch my Mrs, even I have to book an appointment and the last thing you want is her Ladyship kicking off, believe me, and finally I never use the herb during the day.

Oh for the days of squidgy black, red Leb, hash, oil and now green which as you say is something else.

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

.it's a dangerous mind altering drug that causes abnormal behaviour in it's users...including physcotic episodes which can lead to violence.

For a moment I thought you were talking about alcohol,     Just incase you haven't noticed, the rest of the  world has moved on from that ridiculous reefer madness hysteria,  

17 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Medical use LOL. Isn't that how morphine and heroin are used? For medical use? But it didn't really work out; did it?

What are you talking about, morphine is used extensively for medical purposes, and in the uk even heroin is used for pain relief I would say both worked out just fine for medical use.

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

weed has many health, mental and side effects

and alcohol doesn't?    go do your pathetic trolling elsewhere,  nobody here wants to read your bigoted biased rubbish or your insulting comments

1 hour ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

72 years young, smoked various forms of Ganga for 57 years, you are clueless.

He's worse than clueless he is also a very annoying troll

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Totally absurd comparison, weed has many health, mental and side effects...you are living in a different era to buying an eighth of moroccan black off chalky 

You have never smoked it have you?   Its obvious so don't try and claim you have. And who is "chalky" am I seeing a touch of racism there?  Its no surprise that your bigotry is not limited to users of cannabis.

2 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

and alcohol doesn't?    go do your pathetic trolling elsewhere,  nobody here wants to read your bigoted biased rubbish or your insulting comments

And there is the proof...your angry, insulting and aggressive reply...need I say more...why do ganga cadets always say" it's not as bad as alcohol"???..we are not talking about drink, we are talking about the horrendous effects of weed has had on families, businesses and tourists in Thailand..are you one of the scyophenics or phycos that need weed???...I have a feeling you are

2 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

You have never smoked it have you?   Its obvious so don't try and claim you have. And who is "chalky" am I seeing a touch of racism there?  Its no surprise that your bigotry is not limited to users of cannabis.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/health/marijuana-heart-death-wellness

2 minutes ago, baansgr said:

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/17/health/marijuana-heart-death-wellness

utter rubbish   just another load of meaningless statistics

11 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

About time they got rid of that crap, sick of walkng round the streets stinking of cannabis everyday, hopefully the 24 hour shop opposite my condo will close, sick of the smell and the deadbeats who hang around outside the shop all day and night, good riddance, should never have legalised it in the first place

 

I hate how there's so many bars, it's so in your face all the time! Ban alcohol! /s
 

People don't like it cause stigma, you can't apply this logic to anything else hamburgers, massages, etc. Stop trying to pretend it's anything else.
 

So what if there are lots of cannabis stores? Did the cannabis store touch you?

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

And there is the proof...your angry, insulting and aggressive reply...need I say more...why do ganga cadets always say" it's not as bad as alcohol"???..we are not talking about drink, we are talking about the horrendous effects of weed has had on families, businesses and tourists in Thailand..are you one of the scyophenics or phycos that need weed???...I have a feeling you are

your rants are becoming incoherent again, what on earth are "scyophenics"  there is no such word, did you make it up yourself?   Its a bit early for drinking  did you have a few for breakfast?  I have a feeling you did

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Another hippy relying on the 1970s Woodstock era myth of marijuana is harmless. It's not!!!..it's a dangerous mind altering drug that causes abnormal behaviour in it's users...including physcotic episodes which can lead to violence. No wonder there is so many violent outbursts each day in Phuket and Pattaya

Hey, I get that there’s a lot of myths about weed out there, but let’s talk facts.
 

Cannabis is not some harmless party relic from the ‘70s — it’s a medicine and a recreational substance used responsibly worldwide.
 

Yes, cannabis is psychoactive, but the vast majority of users do NOT experience psychotic episodes. Scientific studies show that psychosis linked to cannabis is extremely rare and usually associated with pre-existing conditions or heavy, prolonged use of very high THC products.
 

Violence is NOT a typical effect of cannabis. In fact, many studies find cannabis tends to reduce aggression and anxiety in most users. You are 100% wrong on this one.
 

Phuket and Pattaya have their own complex social issues, but blaming cannabis for violent outbursts is misleading and ignores bigger factors like alcohol abuse, economic stresses, and other social problems.
 

Countries that have legalized cannabis, like Canada and parts of the US, track these stats closely — no spike in violence has been linked to cannabis legalization.
 

So let me get this straight: you're blaming cannabis for violence…

But alcohol, the legal, socially accepted drug that’s directly linked to:

• ✅ Drunk driving deaths

• ✅ Domestic violence

• ✅ Bar fights and street brawls

• ✅ Liver disease and long-term health damage

• ✅ Blackouts and reckless behavior

…gets a free pass?
 

Meanwhile, cannabis users are mostly at home eating snacks, watching Netflix, and forgetting where they left their phone, not starting fights in Bangla Road at 2 a.m.
 

The data doesn’t lie:

• Alcohol is involved in 40%+ of violent crimes globally

• Cannabis? Almost none. In fact, it’s often used to treat anxiety and aggression.

You’re worried about someone giggling at a tree or ordering too many snacks?
 

8 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

utter rubbish   just another load of meaningless statistics

So a study over 8 years by various western countries....is rubbish 😁 😁 😁