Dope changes ‘harm economy'

Cannabis advocates rally to oppose tighter curbs, writes Jutamas Tadthiemrom

- Jutamas Tadthiemrom

Cannabis advocates will hold a mass rally at the Ministry of Public Health today to protest the government's campaign to recriminalise the plant three years after it was removed from the national narcotics list.

Dubbed “Operation 7-7”, the gathering would “demand answers from the public health minister and push for the right approach to regulate cannabis”, organisers posted on the rally’s Facebook page.

On the agenda is “exposing the monopolisation of cannabis by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin”, after Mr Somsak earlier vowed to allow only the use of medical cannabis once the new regulations are issued.

“July 7 is an important starting point. We will camp out at the ministry and take the opportunity to create an action plan. People in the industry all over the country have joined hands to carry out a mission that will continue until the country has a Cannabis Act,” wrote cannabis advocate Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka on her Facebook page on Friday.

Thailand’s cannabis industry, once hailed as a new economic driver and tourism magnet, is now at a crossroads.

The relisting of cannabis is expected push tens of thousands small and local growers and entrepreneurs out of business.