Activists advocating for cannabis reform in Thailand have announced a major demonstration on July 7th.
Thailand's Green U-Turn: Cannabis Advocates Rally Against Re-Criminalization
Thailand's Cannabis liberty champions are gearing up for a mass demonstration at the Ministry of Public Health on July 7, aiming to protest the government's renewed ambition to re-criminalize the plant following its decriminalization three years prior.
The vocal pro-cannabis organization, Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future Network, issued a statement on Wednesday firing shots at Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin for pledging to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic within a shocking 45 days.
His sudden move came hot on the heels of the Bhumjaithai Party's departure from the coalition government – led by the Pheu Thai Party – that had originally fueled the cannabis liberalization in 2022.
In its ferocious statement, the network questioned the minister's intentions, suspecting this political maneuver may be retaliation following Bhumjaithai's exit.
Many are raising eyebrows about the timing of Minister Somsak's renewed anti-cannabis stance. Throughout his tenure, he had, on several occasions, attempted to reclassify the plant, but repeatedly failed at each attempt. However, only days after the coalition shift, the minister sprung back into action, parroting concerns about cannabis-related hazards and public grievances without fail.
The network denounced the Ministry's latest announcement, which repeals former restrictions – such as banning sales to anyone under 20 and students – in favor of implementing a prescription requirement.
The statement alleged that this shift may result in facilitating easier access for underage individuals, inadvertently nurturing monopolies run by medical professionals who are vocally against cannabis use, and stripping the public of safeguards.
The network outlined two imminent demands for the protest campaign:
- Amend the June 23 ministerial announcement to reinstate previous regulations, allowing proper oversight in cannabis distribution.
- Cease all attempts to revert cannabis to its former status as a narcotic. The network called on citizens to join the mass rally outside the ministry offices in Nonthaburi on July 7 at 1pm, pressing for both demands. They also vowed sustained action until the Cannabis Act is passed by Parliament.
Additional Insights:
- The abrupt policy U-turn stemmed from the political repercussions of the Bhumjaithai Party exiting the ruling coalition in mid-2025.
- Minister Somsak cites "concerns for the protection of children and youth" as a primary justification for the intensified control of cannabis.
- The policy overhaul follows instructions from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, displaying top-level support for stripping recreational cannabis use and confining it to medical applications.
- Cannabis shop owners and businesses fear the economic fallout from the crackdown on cannabis trade, particularly in tourist-centric regions.
- The pro-cannabis organization, Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future Network, is set to protest at the Ministry of Public Health on July 7, contesting the Ministry's intent to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, a move they suspect is politically motivated following the Bhumjaithai Party's exit from the coalition government.
- In response to the Ministry's announcement repealing previous regulations and implementing a prescription requirement for cannabis, the network has outlined two demands for the upcoming mass rally: the amendment of the June 23 ministerial announcement to reinstate previous regulations, and a cease to all attempts to revert cannabis to its former status as a narcotic.
