Weed network fears law change

Citing research by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Systematic Hemp and Cannabis Resolution, Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network has urged three alliance parties not to reinstate the plant as a narcotic drug, as that would be like “getting the first shirt button wrong” and lead to more problems.

Prasitchai Nunual, the network leader, wrote on their Facebook fan page yesterday that before the election, this particular ad-hoc committee was set up to discuss removing cannabis from the list in an attempt to study the systemic usage of the plant.

According to Mr Prasitchai, the committee consisted of not only experts but also representatives of political parties, including the Move Forward Party (MFP), the Pheu Thai Party and the Prachachart Party, three of the seven allies that signed a working agenda on May 22.

With that said, the three parties’ attempt to, in his words, “change their agenda” on cannabis after the election, which included the reinstatement of cannabis as a narcotic drug, appeared contradictory in his view. He said that changing the agenda was done for the benefit of the parties, not the country, and, even worse, was not based on the evidence available.

“It is okay to go back on their words based on the committee’s earlier studies, but not based on public opinion or their personal political beneficiaries,” the post read.

Mr Prasitchai added that a shift in cannabis policy based on public opinion alone would be akin to “getting the first shirt button wrong”, which might result in an even worse situation later on. He suggested that they review the results of the study once again before thinking of reinstatement.

Meanwhile, cannabis growers in Khon Kaen also called for discussion before any changes are made.

Seangpirun Wongtawan, the owner of a cannabis shop in Khon Kaen, told the reporters that he was worried about vague legal regulations on cannabis, as they made it difficult for owners to keep up with and adhere to, particularly concerning plant registration.

He said he wished new regulations would focus more on medical applications of the plant as “growers have already invested large amounts in their products”.