Thailand to Redesignate Marijuana as Narcotic by Year-end

According to a report from Reuters on May 9th, Thai Prime Minister announced on Tuesday (7th) that Thailand will reclassify marijuana as a controlled substance by the end of the year. This marks a significant shift for the country, which became one of the first in Asia to legalize marijuana two years ago.

Over the past two years, the domestic retail marijuana market in Thailand has grown rapidly, with the industry projected to be worth up to $1.2 billion by 2025.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin expressed on social media X, "I hope the Ministry of Health will amend regulations to reclassify marijuana as a controlled substance. The Ministry of Health should quickly issue a rule allowing its use only for health and medical purposes.

Medical marijuana was legalized in 2018, while recreational marijuana legalization was achieved in 2022. Critics argue that the liberalization occurred too quickly, leading to significant confusion in terms of rules and regulations.

After attending a meeting with the anti-drug organization, Strata stated that they are committed to taking a strong stance against illegal drugs and have requested authorities to deliver results within the next 90 days and show "significant progress".

Drug abuse is a problem that is destroying the future of our country, with many young people addicted. We must take swift action, confiscate drug traffickers' assets, and expand the range of treatments available.

He also requested authorities to redefine the possession of marijuana under the law, changing it from "small amount" to "one piece," so that authorities can enforce it more strictly. The Sreeta government had previously stated that they hoped to introduce a marijuana law by the end of the year, banning the recreational use of marijuana and only allowing it for medical and health purposes.

Prasitchai Nunual, Secretary-General of the Future Forward Network in Thailand, stated that re-criminalizing marijuana would be a detrimental move for the economy, causing significant damage to small businesses and consumers.

Many people are growing marijuana and opening marijuana shops, which will have to close. If scientific results show that marijuana is worse than alcohol and cigarettes, then they can be reclassified as drugs. If marijuana is found to be less harmful, then cigarettes and alcohol should be classified as drugs.