2022 Year in Review

The reasons behind legalisation can be broadly categorized into two categories:
cultural and political factors. First, Thailand has had a long history of using
marijuana not just as a medicine but also as food, spice, and fiber.
Apart from this cultural connection, there are political factors at play too.
Currently, Thailand is led by a coalition government, with Bhumjaithai Party
(BJTP) holding the most power. More importantly, the leader of BJTP party,
Anutin Charnviraku, is currently the Health Minister, and is a fervent advocate
for the legalisation of marijuana. His support for legalisation stems from his
desire to promote the plant's medicinal use and to create a commercial business
to meet this medical demand. Additionally, by making marijuana legal, he also
intends to gain the support of farmers as a constituency in the upcoming
elections.
Lastly, the vision to increase national income, expand small-scale cannabis
farming, and position the nation as a wellness tourism destination all
contributed to the legalisation of marijuana.
However, the announcement of its legalisation has been met with strong
criticism. The main criticism is that the government announced the legalisation
without first passing a comprehensive cannabis regulation law. In the absence of
a law, hundreds of cannabis shops, mobile dispensaries, and marijuana-infused
gummies have sprouted up in Thailand, boosting the recreational marijuana
industry. Further, though the government has been trying to introduce the
Cannabis Control Bill, the lack of a quorum in Parliament is still preventing any
debate on the law.
In light of these concerns, many people, including the Opposition Party and
some members of the ruling government, are calling for cannabis to be
reinstated on the list of scheduled narcotics until a more robust legal framework
is in place.
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