More than a million people against the criminalization of marijuana: a petition that requires revision

Lost opportunities: the marijuana industry faces the threat of criminalization

After marijuana was delisted on June 9 last year, Kasicorn Research Center predicts that the value of the marijuana market in Thailand will reach 21 billion baht by 2024, spurred on by demand from Thais and foreign tourists.

However, the electoral-winning Move Forward party is facing obstacles in its bid to form a coalition government, and its marijuana policy is causing concern among industry stakeholders, especially the 12,000 marijuana sales, processing and research businesses across the country.

Threats to the public and industry: the consequences of the criminalization of marijuana

Panthep Puaphongpan, dean of Rangsit University's Institute of Integrative Medicine, warns that if marijuana is put back on the drug list, possession without a doctor's prescription will be considered a crime. People growing marijuana would be considered drug producers, while even medical use could be punishable. "Move Forward" promises to bring back the criminalization of marijuana, which threatens the thousands of points of sale, shops and pharmacies that have sprung up across the country since last June.

The policy also requires animal and human testing of marijuana to create medicines, which will drive up prices and push small players out of the market. This goes against one of the goals of marijuana legalization, which was to allow local communities to grow and market the herb to increase income.

Protests and revision: public outrage over plans to criminalize marijuana

Pantep also predicts that patients, farmers and businessmen will protest and demand a revision of the policy if it is implemented in its current form. He suggests that "Move Forward" should focus on regulation rather than prohibition of marijuana, for example by strengthening the draft law on marijuana consumption and imposing tougher penalties for abuse.

Akradej Chakjinda, leader of the "Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future" network, says the criminalization of marijuana will allow government officials and law enforcement to exploit customers and small businesses. He adds that only large companies with enough capital to manufacture marijuana-based products will benefit from this law. Instead, existing laws and regulations should be properly enforced to control marijuana use.

The role of marijuana in medicine and opportunities for development

In addition to the economic and social impacts, the criminalization of marijuana could limit patients' access to medicinal products based on this herb. Marijuana has been shown to be effective in treating a number of conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain neurological conditions.

If the status of marijuana as a drug is restored, it will be much more difficult for doctors to prescribe drugs based on this plant to their patients. High prices for such medicines, due to the need for testing and obtaining licenses, will also become a barrier for patients.

Moreover, the criminalization of marijuana will affect the industry's development opportunities. New and innovative companies specializing in marijuana and its derivatives will find it difficult to enter the market and compete with large players with sufficient resources. This could result in the loss of potential growth, investment and jobs in this new and promising area.

The criminalization of marijuana in Thailand could have far-reaching implications for the industry, the public, and patients, as well as run counter to the original goals of legalizing the herb. Therefore, it is important to weigh all the factors and consider alternative approaches that will control the use of marijuana, while ensuring the development of the industry, access to medicines and economic well-being.

Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova