Bhumjaithai to champion cannabis bill next term

The Bhumjaithai Party yesterday pledged to push for the passage of a bill on cannabis and hemp after the next election as the controversial draft law appears unlikely to clear the House of Representatives before the end of its current term.

Supachai Jaisamut, chairman of the House committee vetting the draft law and a Bhumjaithai list-MP, seemed resigned to the fate of the bill sponsored by his party.

On Wednesday, the House continued its second reading of the draft law, and it took almost three hours to try and meet a quorum and vote on Section 15/3.

Of the 211 MPs who declared their presence in the chamber, 148 voted in favour, and 21 voted against it, with 36 abstentions. The six others did not cast votes.

Deputy House Speaker Supachai Phosu declared the meeting adjourned at…