Opposition parties and the Forensic Physician Association of Thailand (FPAT) have asked the Administrative Court to issue an injunction to halt the decriminalisation of cannabis and hemp.

After submission of their petition yesterday (Thursday), Dr.Chonlanan Srikaew, opposition leader and leader of the Pheu Thai Party, told the media that they share the concerns of forensic physicians over the widespread non-medical use of cannabis, following the issuance of an edict by the Ministry of Public Health removing cannabis and hemp from the Category 5 drug list on June 9th.

He claimed that the decriminalisation of cannabis and hemp has proven to have more disadvantages than advantages.

FPAT President Dr. Smith Srisont said that the Public Health Ministry’s edict was issued without proper consideration, resulting in widespread recreational use of cannabis, such as in food and drinks and cosmetics.

Decriminalization of cannabis and hemp has been the flagship policy of the Bhumjaithai Party, a member of the governing coalition.

The Cannabis Bill, initiated by the party, passed its first reading in the House. It was, however, heavily amended by the House Scrutiny Committee, after the Thai Medical Council and a number of physicians raised concerns about the widespread use of cannabis for non-medical purposes.

Even the Democrat Party, which supported the bill during the first reading in the House, has now changed its position.

Dr. Chonlanan said that, although the bill had been heavily revised by the House Scrutiny Committee, the opposition willnot endorse it during its second and final readings, because the essence of the bill, regarding the non-medical use of the plants, remains intact.

According to the edict, any individual can grow cannabis or hemp and possess all parts of a cannabis plant and cannabis extracts with a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content of not more than 0.2% by dry weight. They are required to notify authorities concerned though.

A permit is required from authorities for the sale of cannabis, plants, saplings and extracts.

Production and sale of cannabis products if the forms of food, drinks, cosmetics or traditional medicine are subject to the controls stated in relevant laws.

The sale of cannabis or its extracts to pregnant women, breast-feeding women and people under 20 is prohibited.