(BANGKOK) — The prime minister of Thailand, the primary nation in Asia to legalize hashish two years in the past, mentioned Wednesday that he desires to outlaw the drug once more amid issues that the dearth of regulation had made it obtainable to youngsters and elevated crimes.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on the social media platform X that he requested the Well being Ministry to amend its checklist of narcotics to once more embrace hashish, and subject new guidelines to allow its use for medical purposes solely.
Srettha additionally ordered native authorities to suppress felony actions linked to the unlawful drug commerce and demanded to see progress inside 90 days.
After hashish was decriminalized in 2022, it was initially mentioned that it might be allowed just for medicinal use, however in apply the market was unregulated. It has prompted public backlash and issues over misuse and crime.
Decriminalization was spearheaded by the Bhumjaithai Celebration, whose stronghold is within the impoverished northeast the place it promised farmers hashish could be a brand new money crop.
Within the 2023 elections, all main events — together with Bhumjaithai — promised to limit hashish for medical use.
Hashish advocates and entrepreneurs have opposed a radical rollback, which they claimed could be damaging to the financial system. Authorized hashish has fueled Thailand’s tourism and farming sectors and spawned thousands of cannabis retails starting from retailers, vehicles to market stalls all around the nation.
