The Bumiazhthai Party, the second-largest party in the ruling coalition, has vehemently opposed an attempt by the verdict Phua Thai Party to add marijuana to the list of drugs.

A political scandal is brewing in Thailand over the status of marijuana that threatens to split the ruling coalition. As reported by the authoritative Nikkei Asia, the verdict Phua Thai party has attempted to reintroduce cannabis to the list of narcotic substances, which has drawn sharp opposition from their largest coalition partner, the Bumiazhthai party, which initiated the decriminalization of marijuana two years ago.

Thailand’s Ministry of Health recommended that cannabis be returned to the Category 5 list of controlled substances, which also includes psychotropic mushrooms and opium. The decision was based on the results of a public hearing attended by more than 111,000 people. According to Health Minister Somsak Tepsutin, 80 per cent of respondents supported the idea of re-classifying cannabis as a controlled drug.

‘This does not mean that we completely block cannabis and consider it a drug forever,’ Somsak said at a briefing on Tuesday. – ‘But from our perspective as a government, we see more negative consequences than positive ones.

However, the Bumiaztai Party, the third-largest party in parliament and the second-largest in the ruling coalition, strongly opposed the decision. Party spokeswoman Buntida Somchai accused opponents of ‘political games’ that hinder the progress of bills to regulate cannabis after it was removed from the list of narcotic substances in 2022.

‘Changing course could undermine investor confidence and affect many people who have already invested tens of billions of baht,‘ Boonthida said, adding that Bumiaztai had ‘no problem’ working with other parties in the coalition.

Former health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the leader of Bumiaztai, initiated the decriminalization of cannabis. The removal from the list of narcotic substances meant that cannabis could be used for recreational and medical purposes even without a prescription. Cannabidiol, a chemical found in cannabis, can alleviate vomiting, nausea, chronic pain and loss of appetite in patients undergoing cancer treatment, as well as epileptic symptoms.

However, the ministry has not clearly defined ‘medical use’, and the Bumiaztai Cannabis Control Bill has been criticized for being too lenient. It failed to pass its final reading before the previous parliament was dissolved for elections early last year.

Earlier this year, the health ministry, led by Phua Thai, drafted a stricter bill that would re-list the stems, roots, leaves and buds of cannabis plants as narcotic substances, require a doctor’s prescription for use and ban home cultivation.

Leader Bumiaztai Anutin, now Minister of Home Affairs, has said he will vote against the re-criminalization of cannabis at the upcoming drug control board meeting. This creates a potential conflict within the government, as the interior minister and health minister sit on the council, which Prime Minister Setha Thavisin chairs.

Bumiaztai has promoted cannabis as a new cash crop for farmers and a source of income for the tourism industry. But a June study by the Thailand Institute of Development Studies found little economic benefit from legalizing marijuana.

Most of the 18,000 dispensaries are concentrated in major tourist cities such as Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai, with about 90 per cent of clients being foreigners. Neighbouring countries with strict anti-marijuana laws, such as Singapore, have stepped up random drug checks on citizens returning from Thailand.

Industry insiders estimate that foreigners also make up more than half of investors, potentially opening the government to lawsuits if policies touted as attractive to investment are cancelled.

While growing, processing, and selling cannabis products has helped create at least 8,300 jobs, the Institute of Development Studies of Thailand estimated that the industry contributed less than 1 percent of Thai gross domestic product and an even smaller share of corporate tax revenues.

Over the past two years, more than one million people have registered to grow cannabis at home. Business owners and medical marijuana users protested in front of the Government House on Monday, while the advocacy group Future of Cannabis in Thailand went on a hunger strike on Wednesday.

‘Ruling without trial is what doctors at the Ministry of Health are doing by cooperating with politicians against this plant,’ the group said in a statement. They called on the government to form a committee to conduct scientific research into the benefits and adverse effects of cannabis use, something the government has yet to do despite intense political debate.

This situation demonstrates the complexity and contradictory nature of the issue of cannabis legalization, not only in Thailand but also worldwide. On the one hand, legalization opens up new economic opportunities and can help patients in need of medical marijuana. On the other hand, there are concerns about potential negative social and public health impacts.

The outcome of this political standoff could have far-reaching consequences not only for Thailand but also for the entire Southeast Asian region, where drug laws have traditionally been very strict. Thailand, as the first country in the region to decriminalize cannabis, has become a kind of experimental site being closely watched by neighbouring States.

Experts note that Thailand’s experience could be a valuable lesson for other countries considering the legalization or decriminalization of cannabis herb. The economic aspect is exciting: despite initial expectations of a significant revenue increase from tourism and the new industry, the financial benefits could have been more impressive.

It is also worth noting that the debate around the status of cannabis in Thailand is taking place against a backdrop of global changes in attitudes towards the plant. Many countries around the world, including Canada, Uruguay and several US states, have already legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. However, Thailand remains the only Asian country that has taken such a step.

Opponents of re-criminalization point to the potential medical benefits of cannabis and the economic opportunities for farmers and small businesses. They also argue that decriminalization helps combat the black market and reduces the burden on the criminal justice system.

On the other hand, proponents of stricter regulation express concern about the potential increase in drug use among young people and possible adverse public health consequences. They also point to international pressure from neighbouring countries concerned about the probable ‘export’ of drug-related problems.

Interestingly, this situation also demonstrates the complexity of coalition politics in Thailand. Disagreements between Phua Thai and Bumiaztai over the cannabis issue could be a severe test for the stability of the ruling coalition.

In conclusion, the outcome of this debate could have far-reaching implications not only for the political situation in Thailand but also for the future of cannabis regulation in Asia as a whole. The global community is watching the situation with interest, realizing that Thailand’s experience could be an important precedent for other countries considering changing their cannabis policy.

Regardless of what decision is ultimately made, Thailand is clearly at the forefront of the global debate on cannabis regulation, balancing potential economic benefits, health benefits, and social risks. Policymakers and experts around the world will undoubtedly scrutinize this experience.

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