In an unexpected development, Thailand’s Interior Minister and Bhumjaithai Party leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced on July 23rd a significant policy shift towards legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, abandoning earlier plans to re-criminalize the plant by year’s end. This reversal has sparked questions from former MP Thepthai Senapong regarding the dynamics of leadership in the country.
Thepthai, a former Democrat lawmaker, expressed his concerns via Facebook, highlighting Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s initial campaign promise to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic. Despite Srettha’s continued advocacy for this policy upon taking office, Anutin, who initiated efforts to decriminalize marijuana during his tenure as public health minister starting June 9, 2022, staunchly opposed the re-criminalization initiative. This shift in direction began under the administration of former Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, now a prominent figure in the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party and serving as a privy councillor.
The decision to suspend plans for re-criminalization came after discussions between Srettha, Anutin, and Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, leading to a consensus favoring a legislative approach. Although a draft law had been submitted under the previous administration, it was not put to a vote due to parliament’s dissolution before last year’s election. “The classification of marijuana as a narcotic or otherwise will now be determined through parliamentary debate on the existing draft law,” explained Prommin Lertsuridej, the prime minister’s secretary-general, in an interview.
Thepthai argues that this retreat from re-criminalization represents a significant setback for another key policy initiative of Srettha. Speculation surrounds the influence behind this policy reversal, with attention drawn to a recent gathering in Khao Yai where Anutin was seen socializing with prominent figures like de facto Pheu Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra and party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
As Thailand navigates this evolving marijuana policy, Thepthai’s question lingers: Who truly wields power within the corridors of Thailand’s government?
