BANGKOK (AP) — The prime minister of Thailand, the primary nation in Asia to legalize hashish two years in the past, mentioned Wednesday that he needs to outlaw the drug once more amid issues that the shortage of regulation had made it out there to youngsters and elevated crimes.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on the social media platform X that he requested the Well being Ministry to amend its record of narcotics to once more embody hashish, and challenge new guidelines to enable its use for medical functions solely.
Srettha additionally ordered native authorities to suppress felony actions linked to the unlawful drug commerce and demanded to see progress inside 90 days.
After hashish was decriminalized in 2022, it was initially mentioned that it might be allowed just for medicinal use, however in observe the market was unregulated. It has prompted public backlash and issues over misuse and crime.
Decriminalization was spearheaded by the Bhumjaithai Get together, whose stronghold is within the impoverished northeast the place it promised farmers hashish could be a brand new money crop.
Within the 2023 elections, all main events — together with Bhumjaithai — promised to limit hashish for medical use.
Hashish advocates and entrepreneurs have opposed a radical rollback, which they claimed could be damaging to the financial system. Authorized hashish has fueled Thailand’s tourism and farming sectors and spawned 1000’s of hashish retails starting from outlets, vans to market stalls everywhere in the nation.
