Thai Cannabis Advocates Protest Proposed Recriminalization

Protesters argue that reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic would harm the economy and limit personal freedoms.

A health ministry committee has approved a proposal to relist cannabis as a narcotic, limiting its use to medical and research purposes.
The proposal, if enacted, will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Pro-cannabis activists marched to the prime minister’s office, demanding the government regulate rather than criminalize cannabis.
Protesters claim the move would benefit a few interest groups at the expense of the general public.
Legal cannabis has significantly boosted Thailand’s tourism and farming sectors since its decriminalization in 2022.