(16 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nonthaburi, Thailand – 16 May 2024
1. Various of cannabis supporters waiting outside Ministry of Public Health to meet minister
2. Wide of Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsuthin walking to meet the protesters
3. Mid of woman recording meeting on phone with cannabis leaf on its protective cover
4. Wide of pro-cannabis figure Prasitchai Nunuan speaking while minister listens
5. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Prasitchai Nunuan, Pro-cannabis campaigner:
“Whenever it is relisted as a narcotic, it will mean that cannabis will be put into jail again.”
6. Wide of people watching the debate
7. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health:
“You have petitioned me today and I will consider it. I still insist that we will allow its use medicinally but not recreationally.”
8. Wide of group handing petition to minister
9. Close of campaigner Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka
10. Wide of pro-cannabis supporter expressing frustration to minister who walks away
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chkwan “Kitty” Chopaka, Pro-cannabis campaigner:
“I think it’s probably more political than science. There is not really any science talking about any of this. I still do think the word ‘stigma’ has not actually been erased out of cannabis, even with the legalization.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Sri Racha, Thailand – 05 June 2022
12. Various of people working in cannabis farm
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Bangkok, Thailand – 06 June 2023
13. Various of cannabis shops
STORYLINE:
Pro-cannabis groups in Thailand gathered at the health ministry on Thursday to oppose the government’s plan to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalized.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said last week he would like the plant relisted again by the end of this year.
Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize it in 2022 for medical purposes, but in practice the market appears nearly unregulated, leading to a public backlash and concerns over misuse and crime.
About 30 people came to the health ministry to petition the minister, Somsak Thepsuthin.
Prasitchai Nunuan, an advocate, said there was agreement that cannabis should be properly regulated, but relisting it was too much.
“Whenever it’s relisted as a narcotic, it will mean that cannabis will be put into jail again,” he said, pointing to the possible economic impacts on the growing industry.
Health minister Somsak listened to the demands but stuck to the government line.
“You have petitioned me today and I will consider it. I still insist that we will allow its use medicinally but not recreationally.”
Chokwan Chopaka, an advocate who also owns a cannabis shop, said the government about-turn on policy seemed to be driven by political motives.
“I think the word stigma hasn’t actually been erased out of cannabis even with the legalization,” she said.
The 2022 delisting saw a growth in investment in cannabis farms, with entrepreneurs seeking to take advantage of the new situation.
But despite the initial pledge that it would only be legalized for medical use, it was delisted before any regulation could be properly put in place.
The result was a boom in cannabis shops and cafes opening up on high streets around the country, especially in areas known for their nightlife.
AP video shot by Jerry Harmer, Tassanee Vejpongsa and Tian Ji Macleod
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