Supporters of cannabis decriminalisation plan to stage a protest march on Monday, from Ratchadamnoen Nai Road to Government House, to voice their opposition to the criminalization of cannabis and hemp.
The Narcotics Board of the Ministry of Public Health decided today, by a majority, to criminalise cannabis by classifyingcannabis flowers and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exceeding 0.2% as a Category 5 narcotic. Cannabis roots, seeds and branches are not included.
The board accepted the medical benefits of cannabis, but is strongly against its use for recreational purposes. The board’s decision will be forwarded to the Narcotics Control Board for finalisation, in the hope that the revised Category 5 drug list will come into force on January 1st.
Prasitchai Nanuam, one of the protest leaders, said today that the planned protest will be their last attempt to stop cannabis from being criminalised. He blamed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for ordering the Public Health Ministry to review the decriminalization of cannabis and hemp.
Supporters of cannabis are urged to converge on Ratchadamnoen Nai Road on Sunday and to camp out there ahead of the protest march to Government House on Monday.
Advocated by the Bhumjaithai Party as its flagship policy, cannabis and hemp were removed from Category 5 drug list about two years ago, paving the way for mass cultivation of cannabis plants and a mushrooming of cannabis outlets, to the extent that several doctors have expressed concern over abuse of cannabis and its extracts for recreational purposes, especially among young people.
The decriminalization bill passed its first reading in the House, but was shelved due to opposition from several other parties. The bill was automatically dropped after the expiry of the House’s 4-year term.
