National —
On July 19th, 2024, Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network issued a statement on social media regarding their end of a 10-day hunger strike and peaceful demonstration against the reclassification of cannabis as a narcotic illegal substance in front of the Thai Government House.
The following, in their own words, is their statement. Their opinions are entirely their own:
Statement by the Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network
From July 8, 2024, to today, July 19, 2024, a period of 12 days, the Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network has been gathering to urge the government to use logical/scientific processes to determine which law should regulate cannabis. The network also conducted a 10-day hunger strike as a peaceful means to demonstrate our cause and for cannabis’ rights.
Despite our peaceful demonstration and hunger strike to express our intention for the government to form a committee to study the scientific facts about cannabis—a dignified and universal mechanism—the Minister of Public Health, Somsak Thepsuthin, has ignored even the proper processes.
His objective appears to be monopolizing cannabis, as evidenced by several events showing his collusion with vested interests and questionable stakeholders. We urge the public to note that Somsak Thepsuthin is depriving the people of cannabis, an act that we deem severely detrimental.
Furthermore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Peeraphan Saleeratavipark, as the chairman of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), mentioned that he has not been consulted. He stated that a meeting is scheduled for July 23, while he has commitments extending into August. He is unaware of the Ministry of Public Health’s intention to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic. If such an agenda arises, he suggests the ONCB provide an explanation. He questioned the inconsistent reasoning from previous decisions to remove cannabis from the narcotics list.
Moreover, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, indicated that the Prime Minister has called for discussions to understand the reasoning among stakeholders. With key figures in the process of potentially reclassifying cannabis, including the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, emphasizing the need for reasoned and data-driven decisions, this aligns with the proposals and stance of our network.
Therefore, we are confident that cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic at this time according to Somsak Thepsuthin’s agenda.
To ensure that information is used in the process of determining cannabis’ status, it is necessary to have a committee for research. However, as Somsak Thepsuthin has rejected the formation of such a committee as proposed by our network, we have consulted with various parties to establish a people’s committee to gather and present data to the public and key decision-makers, including the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister overseeing the ONCB.
This people’s committee will include academic institutions, particularly universities with cannabis studies programs, medical professionals working with cannabis, cultivators, and business operators. We will also invite differing opinions, such as from the Rural Doctors Society or youth groups advocating for cannabis to be classified as a narcotic. We aim to establish this committee within seven days from today and expedite the study of various facts within two months to inform all parties and use the data to determine cannabis’ status.
The Network for Shaping the Future of Thai Cannabis is committed to communicating this information to the public regularly. We believe that comprehensive public awareness is crucial in the process of determining the appropriate legal framework for cannabis.
In line with these objectives, we announce the suspension of our gathering to proceed to the next steps.
We are determined to ensure cannabis regulation under a legal framework and affirm to our supporters at Chamai Maruchet Bridge and elsewhere that we will strive to regulate cannabis by law, ensuring equal rights for all citizens under beneficial control measures.
Lastly, we extend our gratitude to the media for covering various aspects of our network’s information, enhancing public understanding of cannabis. We believe that well-informed citizens will be powerful in accurately positioning cannabis.
We assure everyone that cannabis will not revert to being classified as a narcotic.
Statement by the Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network July 19, 2024 Chamai Maruchet Bridge, Government House.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
