By Naewna and Reuters – published by CNA
AFTER Interior Minister-cum-Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakil said yesterday (July 23) that the government will now work towards legislating marijuana for medical use, signalling a U-turn on plans to re-criminalise the plant by yearend, former MP Thepthai Senapong questioned who is really the prime minister of this country.
Thepthai, a former Democrat lawmaker, pointed out in a Facebook post that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had announced while campaigning that he would relist marijuana as a narcotic and after taking the reins of the government again announced that he would carry this out by the end of this year.
However this led to Anutin opposing the move with decriminalisation of marijuana being his brainchild and effective since June 9, 2022 when he was public health minister during the previous government headed by Prayut Chan-o-cha who is currently de facto Ruam Thai Sang Chart boss and privy councillor.
However relisting of marijuana as a narcotic was put on hold after Srettha held a meeting with Anutin and Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin where an understanding was reached that legislation was the appropriate step to take .
A draft law on marijuana was submitted to the legislature under the previous administration but parliament was dissolved ahead of an election last year, without a vote taken.
“It will be a matter of law and debated in parliament where there is already a draft law,” secretary-general to the prime minister Prommin Lertsuridej told Reuters.
“Whether it is a narcotic or not is up to parliament.”
Thepthai wrote that pulling back from re-criminalising marijuana shows that another one of Srettha’s policies had been defeated.
This U-turn likely arose at a get-together in Khao Yai over the weekend where de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, his daughter and party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Anutin were photographed singing a song together.
Anutin also sent a message to a network opposing relisting of marijuana as a narcotic who have been demonstrating in front of Government House to disband, he alleged.
With Srettha quickly clearing up the marijuana problem, Thepthai questioned who is actually this country’s prime minister.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Former Democrat PM Thepthai Senapong, right, and some marijuana plant. Both photos: Naewna
Insert: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra, his daughter/Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Interior Minister-cum-Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul singing a song together at Khao Yai on Sunday, July 21, 2024. Photo: TV Channel 7 shared on X
Front Page: File photo of Thepthai Senapong. Credit: Thai Rath
Also read: Thaksin and Anutin getting together ‘not an attempt to end row over marijuana’
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