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Thailand cannabis policy: PM Srettha Thavisin disagrees with ‘recreational use’ of drug, supports medical use
- Two of the parties in Srettha’s coalition government, including his Pheu Thai party, have said they only support medical use of cannabis
- The decriminalisation of cannabis last year has led thousands of businesses opening up in Thailand’s major tourist sites
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Thailand’s new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday spoke out against the recreational use of cannabis, but said his administration would continue the policies supporting its medical use.
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Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country last year to decriminalise cannabis, but within a week of the move, issued a raft of rushed, piecemeal regulations to curb its potential unchecked use, including by children.
“Cannabis policy will be medical cannabis. On recreational use, I do not agree with that,” he said in an interview with Thai news website, The Standard.
Srettha’s Pheu Thai party leads an 11-party coalition government, which came into power in August. Its largest partner, the Bhumjaithai party successfully spearheaded decriminalising cannabis under the last administration.
Both parties have said they only support medical use.
The country’s cannabis industry is projected to be worth up to US$1.2 billion over the next few years, with thousands of businesses springing up in tourist hotspots.
Drug abuse is a big problem for the country that’s been under-addressed
“Drug abuse is a big problem for the country that’s been under-addressed ... cannabis has to be used medically,” Srettha said.
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