BANGKOK, Thailand – Senator Dr. Praphon Tangsrikietkul, Chair of the Senate Public Health Committee, has called for the urgent enactment of a law to regulate cannabis use, emphasizing that there is no need to reclassify the plant as a narcotic. He noted that in the three years since cannabis was removed from Thailand’s narcotics list, there have been no severe problems compared to substances like methamphetamine.
Dr. Praphon stressed that while the medical benefits of cannabis are clear, issues have emerged from misuse rather than the plant itself. He criticized the delay in passing the Cannabis Plant Control Bill, which was supposed to accompany the 2022 decriminalization initiative under then-Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The bill remains stalled in the House of Representatives.
“If we believe cannabis is useful, we must urgently pass proper control legislation. We can’t afford to keep dragging this out,” he said.
Responding to concerns that cannabis should return to the narcotics list, Dr. Praphon stated firmly that such a step is unnecessary. He pointed out that fears around cannabis use have been overstated, and that more significant public health issues come from methamphetamines.
Addressing debate over limits—such as the proposed one gram per day or 30 grams per month cap on cannabis flower use—Dr. Praphon warned that overly strict controls or unclear guidelines could make physicians hesitant to prescribe the substance. He urged professional medical councils to clearly define when and how cannabis should be used, so that both patients and doctors can benefit from safe and effective treatment. (TNA)
