About 100 cannabis saplings have mysteriously been planted in the grounds of Thailand’s parliament complex, without being noticed by security guards or officials.
Aroon Laiphongpaew, parliament’s security chief, was alerted yesterday (Friday) by Watchara Petthong and Somboon Thongburan, two former Democrat MPs, about the presence of the plants, in pots or planted in the ground around several big trees in the front courtyard of parliament.
The plants were neatly arranged in a circle around each of the trees.
All of the saplings were later removed and disposed of, as parliament president, Chuan Leekpai, declared that the parliament building and its compound to be a cannabis-free zone some time ago.
The plants were found during the censure debate, in which the subject of the legalisation of cannabis was raised by the opposition as it challenged Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, whose party, Bhumjaithai, has championed the decriminalisation of cannabis and hemp as a flagship policy.
