The Move Forward Party, the Pheu Thai Party, and the Prachachart Party are the three alliance parties that the Cannabis Future Network in Thailand has urged to refrain from reintroducing cannabis as a controlled substance. The network stated that such a step would be counterproductive and could result in more issues, citing studies done by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Systematic Hemp and Cannabis Resolution.
Cannabis Future Network Leader Prasitchai Nunual expressed concern over the situation and stated that the ad-hoc committee was formed before the election to look into the possibility of removing cannabis from the list of illegal drugs and to research the systematic use of the plant. In addition to professionals, the committee also included members from different political parties, who all agreed to a working agenda on May 22.
Prasitchai found it inconsistent that the parties intended to change their position on cannabis, including the resumption of its narcotic status. He argued that changing the agenda appeared to be driven more by the parties’ self-interest than by the welfare of the country and that it was also not supported by the available data.
Prasitchai highlighted that such judgments should be based on the committee’s conclusions as opposed to public opinion or personal political benefit, while accepting the parties’ right to reevaluate their stances in light of the committee’s past research. He also expressed concern that changing cannabis legislation merely based on popular opinion would have unexpected repercussions.
