Thai Cannabis Reformer Elected as Country’s New PM
Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul is widely credited for introducing cannabis reform from 2022 in Thailand. Pictured left on the cover photo. Credit: Rory Arnold / No 10 Downing Street - UK Government, CC BY 2.0
Politician who brought cannabis reform three years ago in Thailand was elected as the country’s new Prime Minister. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul served as Health Minister during the pandemic, when cannabis was removed from the national list of narcotics, prompting the creation of a new budding market. The flaw of his reform was that the status of cannabis remained undefined.
Thailand was marred by a political crisis over the summer. At the center of the scandal has been now outgoing Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. A controversial telephone conversation leaked, suggesting the PM grossly mishandled a border dispute with Cambodia. Ms. Shinawatra, who is coming from a powerful political family in Thailand, was removed from duty following an official court ruling at the end of August. Which started the race for a new Prime Minister.
A business tycoon turned lawmaker, Anutin Charnvirakul came out as an unlikely candidate to bid for the position. Beating the odds, he was elected as a new Prime Minister on Friday, September 5, after securing a good majority of 311 votes out of 492 in the National Assembly’s lower house, Deutsche Welle reported.
Champion of Cannabis Laws in Thailand
Anutin is widely credited for introducing cannabis reform in Thailand. His decision to decriminalize cannabis reignited the plant’s use in traditional Thai medicine and cuisine. It also led to the creation of the world’s most exciting cannabis market in recent years, and the first cannabis market in Asia. Unfortunately, the legal package did not seal the status of cannabis as a legal substance. Lawmakers after him undermined that, and reversed the progress which has been made.
Anutin’s term as Prime Minister may be short-lived, however. He was chosen under a condition that new elections will be held in Thailand within the end of 2025. It means he might not be able to do much to reverse the damage of the latest swathe of cannabis rule changes in Thailand, which in recent months has seen the closure of thousands of vendors.
Under Shinawatra’s government, lawmakers vowed to cut down on cannabis and ruled out free recreational use. Purchasing cannabis in Thailand is currently possible only with a valid certificate that demonstrates a patient’s medical need for use.
More related news on Soft Secrets:
S
Stephen Andrews
