Thai health minister backs cannabis ban, citing surge in teen usage

Cannabis and its high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) variants should be entirely prohibited for leisure use and return to the narcotics list, says Dr Rasmon Kalayasiri, the Centre of Addiction Studies director. This statement was a show of support for Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew’s proposed changes to the Cannabis and Hemp bill, initially proposed by former minister Anutin Charnvirakul and rejected by the previous House of Representatives.

Before the bill was presented to the House, a ministerial regulation had removed cannabis and hemp from the Category 5 narcotics list under the Narcotics Act. Dr Rasmon backed Minister Cholnan’s idea to modify the draft bill, restricting cannabis and hemp usage exclusively to medical and health purposes. The new proposal would prohibit recreational use, dismiss the idea of allowing the…