Thailand confused by cannabis addiction, U-turn on law made two years ago
Thailand's marijuana business will be worth $1.2 billion by 2025. Despite this, the government is considering declaring its use illegal. Let us tell you that Thailand is the first country in Asia where marijuana is legal.
Two years ago, Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalize marijuana. After which the use and business of cannabis is increasing rapidly in Thailand. Two years after this decision, the Thai government has realized that excessive use of cannabis in the country is pushing the youth towards drug addiction.
Marijuana business has grown rapidly in the domestic market and the government treasury has also benefited from it. Despite this, the government is going to ban its use again. Thousands of marijuana shops and businesses have been emerging in Thailand in the last two years, according to an estimate, Thailand's marijuana business will be worth $1.2 billion by 2025.
ปัญหายาเสพติดคือวาระแห่งชาติที่ทุกหน่วยงานต้องร่วมมือกันแก้ไขปัญหาอย่างจริงจังเพื่อให้ยาเสพติดหมดไปให้ได้ และภายใน 90 วันต้องเห็นผลชัดเจนครับ
— Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) May 8, 2024
ในเรื่องการปราบปราม ขอให้กระทรวงยุติธรรม ปปส. และตํารวจ ร่วมกันตรวจ จับ ปราบปราม ยึดทรัพย์ให้มากขึ้นอีก ทั้งรายใหญ่ รายย่อย… pic.twitter.com/iYnOenhEin
Marijuana should be included in narcotics
“I want the Health Ministry to change the rules and re-list cannabis as a narcotic,” Thai Prime Minister Shretha Thavisin wrote on social media platform X.
Cannabis was legalized for medical use in 2018 and again for recreational use in 2022. But now the government is taking a U-turn on this, and many liberal organizations in Thailand are angry with this decision of the government.
“The future of the country is being destroyed by drugs”
This comment of Shretha Thavisin came after a meeting with the agencies running the campaign against narcotics. At the meeting, Thavisin vowed to take a tough stance on illegal drugs and ordered officials to submit a report in the next 90 days. After the meeting, Thavisin said, “Drugs are a problem that destroys the future of the country, many youth are becoming victims of its addiction. We have to work quickly to seize the assets of drug dealers and ban them. However, no information has been given yet about when cannabis will be listed in narcotics.