National —
On July 24th, 2024, Prof. Panthep Puapongphan, the Dean of the College of Oriental Medicine at Rangsit University, expressed his support for Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s directive to control cannabis use through dedicated legislation and regulation, not recriminalization.
Prof. Panthep praised the Prime Minister’s decision to address both cannabis and hemp within the new legislation, noting that this approach indicates cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic, which could have seen users and sellers return to facing extensive jail time and fines for even small amounts of cannabis.
He pointed out that this move aligns with the indefinite postponement of Thai Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsuthin’s announcement regarding the narcotic classification of cannabis, suggesting that the proposed classification might not be considered if it conflicts with the new policy direction.
Prof. Panthep also addressed questions about the political motives behind the policy shift from considering cannabis as a narcotic to regulating it through legislation which could reflect ongoing negotiations between public interests and the government. Prof. Panthep acknowledged that political influence and Cabinet decisions are crucial in shaping the final outcome.
Prof. Panthep remarked on the legislative process, noting that the introduction of four proposed drafts on cannabis, which are awaiting Cabinet approval, could expedite the legal process. He explained that these drafts include proposals from various stakeholders, including the Bhumjaithai Party and public interest groups, which might speed up the legislative review if they have already undergone preliminary discussions.
This essentially was a response to claims by anti cannabis groups that proper legislation could take three years and continue to leave youth allegedly in danger of cannabis use without proper regulation.
He emphasized that for cannabis to be regulated effectively under a new law, it must avoid the stringent controls associated with narcotics.
Finally, Prof. Panthep discussed the procedural aspects of moving the cannabis bills through Parliament. He noted that if all four drafts are accepted, a joint committee might be established to review them simultaneously.
The inclusion of public representatives in the review process would ensure a balanced consideration of all perspectives, potentially accelerating the legislative timeline.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
