Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to restrict cannabis use to medicinal purposes only in hopes of ending what he calls a big"drug abuse" problem in the country.
More than a year after Thailand legalized the recreational use of marijuana, the country's new prime minister plans to roll back that law in an attempt to end the current glut in the market and bring long-term benefits to the industry., allowing it to be grown and consumed freely. Since then, the weed market has turned free-for-all as various businesses entered the sector with little regulatory or consumer guidance to oversee such activity.
"As it stands, the market is oversaturated with cannabis that hasn't undergone proper lab testing," explained Soratat Pongsangiam, president at Greenhead Clinic, a traditional medical clinic in Phuket. "The industry would like to see clear regulations, and they want it restricted for medical purposes," echoed Sornkanok Vimolmangkang, an associate professor specializing in plant sciences at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.
Anutin, who is also the country's health minister, will not let cannabis return to the narcotic list, Sornkanok said."There would be a way to compromise the regulations to minimize aggressive feedback among coalition parties."With cannabis now in wide circulation, often for hedonistic purposes, health experts say that's deterred some patients from using it for medical purposes.
"This could foster a more positive perception of the cannabis industry among the public, and for the industry to sustain in the long run," Jintana said."From a medical provider's standpoint, stricter measures could also highlight the need for more study and research."