Report Cannabis Advocates to Rally July 7 Against Recriminalisation Plans

[webfact]

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

 

 

[Wuvu2]

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

[hotchilli]

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.

[Beat666]

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. 

[Magictoad]

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?

[spidermike007]

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. 

[Magictoad]

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?

[newbee2022]

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 😂

[LukKrueng]

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.

[cookie1974]

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

 

[Bday Prang]

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

[chickenslegs]

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.