After a lawsuit challenging Thailand’s decriminalization order was accepted by the Central Administrative Court, Thailand cannabis advocates in support of the country’s legal industry are rallying in Bangkok.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by Smith Srisont of Thailand’s Medical Council and opposition political parties, seeks to revoke the order issued by the Public Health Ministry that removed cannabis from the country’s Category 5 narcotics list on June 9. While the decriminalization order legalized marijuana and hemp cultivation and commerce, some have criticized it for its lack of basic controls. The opposition argues that Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul caused social problems for the country and violated local and international laws.
In response to the growing criticism, the Public Health Ministry announced a new ministerial rule to better control the promotion and sale of cannabis flower, but the law has not yet taken effect. The lawsuit has created uncertainty for Thailand’s cannabis industry, and advocates are mobilizing to ensure that their voices are heard. One of Thailand’s top cannabis advocates, Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, and other dispensary owners rallied at the Government House in Bangkok to protest against the lawsuit that could end everything. About 200 people showed up to the rally, including Akradej Chakjinda, a coordinator of Cannakin, a network of cannabis decriminalization supporters. They want to ensure that politicians don’t put cannabis back on the narcotics list.
The proposed Cannabis Act, which would implement Anutin’s decriminalization policy, will be introduced in Parliament on November 23. Soranut “Beer” Masayavanich, owner of Sukhumweed dispensary, announced that another group will gather at the Ministry of Public Health to discuss the upcoming Cannabis Act with Charnvirakul. They aim to create mutual understanding on the benefits of cannabis and insist that decriminalizing it brings benefits to several sectors, from tourism and the economy to agriculture. While opposition leaders suggest putting cannabis back on the banned narcotics list until proper legislation is put into place, advocates are fighting back to maintain the decriminalization order.
