A NETWORK opposing the Pheu Thai-led government’s move to relist marijuana as a narcotic stepped up their protest with some members going on a hunger strike to push for an enquiry before any action is taken, Naewna newspaper said today (July 10).
At 10 a.m. the Network Writing the Future of Cannabis, led by Mr. Prasitschai Noonual, the secretary-general, Mr. Akhordesh Sekajinda and Ms. Chokwang “Kitty” Chophaka read out a statement at the the foot of Chamai Maruchet Bridge, in front of the Government House, saying they opposed the relisting of marijuana as a category 5 drug by yearend as this plant has been used as a medicine for thousands of years and doing so is akin to putting it back in jail.
They added that this plant, which had been imprisoned for 50 years, was set free in 2022 but since then it has been slandered throughout by people who do not understand it, never touched it, yet are now using their prejudice to judge it and send it back to jail.
“Is this fair?” they asked.
Cannabis is being judged and sentenced without a trial as a request that a joint committee be set up to study four dimensions of cannabis had been turned down, they added.
“Judging the plant without an enquiry is what doctors at the Public Health Ministry have done in collaboration with politicians,” they said.
On June 9, 2022 Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise recreational use of marijuana with medical use having been permitted in 2018.
After the liberal marijuana policy came into effect possessing and using all parts of cannabis plants, including flowers and seeds, are now allowed. However, extracted content remains illegal if it contains more than 0.2% of the psychoactive ingredient that produces a “high” — tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
The move comes despite the rapid growth of the domestic retail sector for marijuana, with tens of thousands of shops and businesses springing up in Thailand in the past two years in an industry projected to be worth up to US$1.2 billion by 2025, according to Reuters.
The network proposes that a joint committee be set up to study four dimensions of cannabis as follows:
– Is cannabis more harmful to health than cigarettes and alcohol?
– Was cannabis’ social impact any worse than cigarettes and alcohol over the past two years?
– Are the medicinal properties of cannabis better than cigarettes and alcohol?
– Does cannabis cause psychiatric problems and damage the brain as claimed by the government?
The result of this study should then be used to determine marijuana’s status, they said, adding if the result shows that marijuana is not any worse than cigarettes and alcohol nor causes psychiatric problems or damage children’s brain then the ministerial announcement decriminalising marijuana in 2022 should continue to be used.
CAPTION:
Members of the Network Writing the Future of Cannabis going on a hunger strike outside Government House. Photos: Naewna
Also read: Marijuana demonstration in front of Govt House
Move Forward urges people to judge whether senate ‘necessary’ any longer
Six-year jail sentence upheld for bribe-seeking ex-Pheu Thai MP
Thailand added to human rights watchlist by international NGO
Suthin cannot confirm if Chinese submarine deal will get cabinet green light soon
Central bank head says 3% potential growth rate not high enough
