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BANGKOK (AP) — Two years after Thailand made pot legal, the country appears set to crack down on its freewheeling drug market with a ban on “recreational” use. The Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew said last week that he had recommended a draft bill to the Cabinet that would ban recreational cannabis use while allowing medical. The party’s stronghold is in the poor Northeast, where it promised farmers cannabis would be a new cash crop. Anutin had promised that cannabis would be allowed only for medical use, but in practice the market was nearly unregulated. But, she said, widespread recreational cannabis has created social problems such as youth drug abuse.

Persons: Chonlanan Srikaew, Anutin Charnvirakul, Anutin, Bhumjaithai —, Kalyapat, Kitty ” Chopaka, ” Rattapon Sanrak, Thailand’s, “ Sellers …, ” Organizations: Health, Bhumjaithai Party, Narcotics, Health Ministry, Party, ” Cannabis Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Asia, Bangkok

☆ What Thailand's new coalition government means for the cannabis market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In June 2022, the Southeast Asian nation became the first in Asia to decriminalize the cannabis plant, allowing it to be grown and consumed freely. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai party and one of Srettha's coalition partners, was a key figure responsible for legalizing recreational cannabis. Currently, many outlets claim to be medical cannabis platforms but they often prioritize profits rather than patient health, a number of clinics told CNBC. "This could foster a more positive perception of the cannabis industry among the public, and for the industry to sustain in the long run," Jintana said. "The prospect of exporting cannabis products to legal foreign markets aligns with Thailand's medical hub policy propelling both medicinal cannabis and other traditional herbs to the forefront," said Jintana.

Persons: Dimas Ardian, that's, Srettha Thavisin, Soratat, Srettha, hasn't, Soratat Pongsangiam, Sornkanok, Anutin Charnvirakul, Anutin, Jintana Manorompatrasal, Jintana, May's Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Greenhead, Reuters, Greenhead Clinic, Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, Deputy, CNBC, Sawasdee Clinic Locations: San, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia, Phuket, U.S

☆ Why Thailand's having second thoughts about decriminalizing cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Little more than a year after cannabis decriminalization, following an election that saw a more conservative coalition government come into power, there are signs Thailand’s laws on cannabis could be rewritten once again. Most cannabis dispensaries like his he says, have been responsible and diligent from the start in checking buyers’ IDs and educating customers about cannabis rules. “Thousands of cafes, stores, and other cannabis businesses have sprouted and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent by tourists in a short amount of time,” Zaytsev said. The debate comes just as the quality of domestically produced cannabis in the country was improving, she added. “The quality of Thai cannabis has gotten better and better.

Persons: “, ” Iemvijan, –, Nitikrist Attakrist, ” Attakrist, Chiang Mai, Srettha Thavisin, ” Thavisin, Iemvijan, Cannabis, ”, Wisawa Mcintyre, Anutin Charnvirakul, Athit Perawongmetha, hasn’t, Ley Singdam, Ley, ” Ley, Kitty Chopaka, Chopaka, Michael Zaytsev, LIM, ” Zaytsev, Gloria Lai, ” Lai, ” “, Thavisin, Manan Vatsyayana Organizations: CNN, Thai, Bloomberg, Thailand’s Public, Thai Health, Staff, Reuters Observers, ” Farmers, Thais, International Drug Policy Consortium, Bhumjaithai Party, Getty Locations: Thai, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, San, Thonglor, Phuket, ‘, ”, Athit, New York, Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, AFP

☆ Thai lawmakers plan fresh push to tighten use of cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cannabis buds are seen inside an indoor farm at the Amber Farm, in Bangkok, Thailand, January 30, 2023. "Cannabis will be - double underline - for medical purposes and research," said Saritpong Kiewkong of the Bhumjaithai party, which spearheaded the decriminalisation and is now the second largest component of Thailand's 11-party coalition government. "There is no policy for recreational use," the lawmaker told reporters in parliament, adding that such measures were not yet being considered. It covers permits for growing plants, sales and distribution, and tighter measures against sales in temples, schools and amusement parks. Last week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he supported only medical, and not recreational, use of cannabis.

Persons: Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Chayut Setboonsarng, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia, Phuket, misbehaviour

☆ Thai PM: 'I don't agree with recreational use' of cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Tourists shop cannabis at a cannabis store, at Khaosan Road, one of the favourite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, January 6, 2023. "Cannabis policy will be medical cannabis. On recreational use, I do not agree with that," he said in an interview with Thai news website, The Standard. Srettha's Pheu Thai party leads an 11-party coalition government, which came into power in August. "Drug abuse is a big problem for the country that's been under-addressed ... cannabis has to be used medically," Srettha said.

Persons: Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thai, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia's, New York

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed a new cabinet, including real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the country’s new prime minister and finance minister, according to a Royal gazette published on Saturday, months after the May elections. Srettha's Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, will oversee defence, transport, commerce, health and the foreign ministry portfolios. The second-place Pheu Thai broke off an alliance with Move Forward and brought on rival parties aligned with army generals that ousted Shinawatra-linked parties in 2006 and 2014 coups. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The new cabinet has Pheu Thai controlling ministries overseeing the economy ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha's, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

Reviving Thailand's economy will be one of the biggest tasks for political newcomer Srettha, who became prime minister last month following prolonged uncertainty after a May election. On the day of the vote, Pheu Thai figurehead Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand in a dramatic homecoming after living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid an 8-year prison sentence. Srettha's rapid ascent to power, Thaksin's smooth return and a coalition between Pheu Thai and former rivals fuelled speculation about an agreement between Thaksin and his foes among the country's powerful conservative and royalist army. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The Pheu Thai will control key economic ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul and Pheu Thai Party leader Chonlanan Srikaew greet each other after a press conference about forming an alliance between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai party, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 7, 2023. Pheu Thai and its businesses allies could face similar resistance. Despite abandoning Move Forward, Pheu Thai is lobbying for the backing of its 150 lawmakers in a prime ministerial vote expected later this month. Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat said no decision had been made on whether to vote for a Pheu Thai government. "The path to government for Pheu Thai is now more about Thaksin than the people."

Persons: Anutin Charnvirakul, Chonlanan Srikaew, Athit, Cholnan Srikaew, Thai's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pita Limjaroenrat, Veerapat, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thai, Titipol Phakdeewanich, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Chayut, Panu, Martin Petty, Nick Macfie Organizations: Bhumjaithai, Pheu Thai Party, Pheu, REUTERS, Senate, Ubon Ratchathani University, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, BANGKOK, Ubon

☆ Bans, betrayals and stalemates: How Thailand's old guard could respond to election results
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (center), at a rally in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 18 2023. The vote for PM is expected in August after the Election Commission certifies election results. A Pheu Thai betrayalLed by the daughter of ex-prime minister Thaksin, Pheu Thai is an opposition party that is more careful about its messaging on the monarchy. "Pheu Thai will run the risk of being punished electorally by the pro-democracy voters, who are the key supporters of Pheu Thai in the future," warned Waitoolkiat. When the Future Forward Party was dissolved in 2020, it set off mass youth-led protests.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Valeria Mongelli, —, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, There's, Pita, Napisa, Susannah Patton Lowy, Thaksin, Susannah Patton, Patton, Pongsudhirak —, electorally, Waitoolkiat, there's Organizations: Party, Bloomberg, Getty, Chulalongkorn University, Chulalongkorn University's Faculty, Political Science, of Security, International Studies, Foreign Relations, Constitutional Court, National, Corruption, Electoral Commission, Constitutional, Human Rights, Center for Strategic, Naresuan University . Conservative, Senate, CSIS, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute, Conservative, CFR, Pheu, Forward Party Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, parliament's, Pheu Thai

[1/2] Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat holds hands with coalition party leaders following a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18, 2023. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, May 19 (Reuters) - Thailand's progressive Move Forward party on Friday said potential coalition partners need not support its controversial stance on amending the royal insult law, as it seeks to win the backing of other parties to form a government. The lese-majeste law prescribes up to 15 years of jail for perceived offences against the monarchy, which many Thais consider sacrosanct. Third-place winner Bhumjaithai party, which commands a critical voting bloc, said it would not support any premier that would amend the lese-majeste law. "We support medical marijuana, and recreational use must be regulated," a recently elected parliamentarian for Move Forward, Parit Wacharasindhu, said.

[1/5] Move Forward Party leader, Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media following a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18, 2023. Move Forward, which won most seats after it capitalised on its groundswell of youth support, has an alliance of eight parties worth about 313 of the 500 lower house seats but no guarantees it can form a coalition government. "There is a committee and negotiation team in place to find out what I further need, the seats I need, so there is stability and no loss of balance in governing," Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat told a press conference. Move Forward won massive youth support with a lively campaign and sophisticated use of social media, but its anti-establishment stance on some issues, including over business monopolies, could complicate its bid to rule. It is far from certain that the new alliance would become Thailand's next government, despite a decisive opposition victory.

☆ Thailand's Move Forward confident of more support to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Move Forward Party leader, Pita Limjaroenrat speaks to the media following a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, Thailand, May 18, 2023. REUTERS/Athit PerawongmethaBANGKOK, May 18 (Reuters) - The leader of the progressive Move Forward Party that secured a stunning victory in Thailand's election this week said on Thursday he was confident of building more support and being able form a stable and balanced government. Move Forward has campaigned on changing the lese-majeste law, under which at least 200 people have been charged in the past few years, many from a youth-led protest movement. The law prescribes jail terms of up to 15 years for each perceived offence, with some given sentences of several decades. Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"Move Forward chooses an uncompromising mode of change while Pheu Thai choose a compromising mode of change," Prajak said. Pheu Thai has been far more measured in its messaging on the monarchy - and that could leave it with more options. "Pheu Thai is holding its cards close to its chest," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "I think Pheu Thai will stick with Move Forward," he said, adding abandoning its ally would make Pheu Thai look as if it was betraying the will of the people. "I still think that a conservative coalition ... with Senate backing is far more likely to emerge than a pro-democracy led coalition," Abuza said.

☆ Deals to be done as Thai opposition parties look to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sunday's election showcased an extraordinary surge by the progressive Move Forward party that almost had a clean sweep of the capital Bangkok, followed closely by the populist Pheu Thai party, which had been the dominant force in every Thai election this century. Between them the two opposition parties decimated parties with ties to the royalist army but it is far from certain the opposition will form the next government, with parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup skewed in favour of its allies. To govern, agreements may need to be struck with multiple camps, including rival parties and members of a junta-appointed Senate with a record of favouring conservative parties led by generals. [1/2] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, looks up at the crowd during the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 14, 2023. Pita said on Sunday he was ready to partner with Pheu Thai but Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of her party's prime ministerial candidates, said it was too soon to discuss.

☆ Political analysts, business groups react to Thailand election results
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

THITINAN PONGSUDHIRAK, CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY"The top two parties will be Pheu Thai and Move Forward. "Pheu Thai fought the wrong war, the populism war that it already won. That's the new battleground in Thai politics. KEN MATHIS LOHATEPANONT, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN"Since 2001, Pheu Thai has won the largest number of seats at every election comfortably. After two decades, this certainty of Thai politics has been overturned.

☆ Thai PM candidate casts vote in marijuana-print shirt
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The 56-year-old is the prime ministerial candidate for the Bhumjaithai Party, which has campaigned on a promise to promote medical marijuana after successfully pushing for the substance to be decriminalised last year. Without associated regulations in place, recreational use surged, angering the Southeast Asian country's conservatives. Anutin has promised that if re-elected, he will tighten regulations to curb recreational use and restrict cannabis use to medical purposes only. Anutin flashed a smile as he emerged from a voting booth and declined to answer reporters' questions about the symbolism of his shirt. Prayuth faces off against the populist platform of the opposition Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, which has won every election in Thailand since 2001.

☆ Factbox: Preliminary results of Thailand's election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, meets with the media members on the day of the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaBANGKOK, May 14 (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition parties Move Forward and Pheu Thai won the most seats in Sunday's election, paving the way for a challenge to the military-backed government, which has been in power for nearly a decade. Parliamentary seats are distributed based on 400 open constituency seats and 100 'party-list' seats - or seats won by parties based on their share of national votes. Below are preliminary results of Sunday's ballot, according to the Election Commission of Thailand, with 97% of the vote counted. The tabulation of party-list seats is based on a Reuters tally of voting data made available by the election commission.

☆ Thai opposition take on kingdom’s conservative cliques in challenge to military’s power
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The junta-era constitution gives the establishment-dominated upper house a significant say in who can ultimately form a government so opposition parties must win by a strong margin. It’s the party of the billionaire Shinawatra family – a controversial political dynasty headed by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Paetongtarn only entered politics three years ago but has presented herself as hailing from a new generation to connect with young Thais. To be prime minister, a candidate must have a majority in both houses – or at least 375 votes. That means an opposition party or coalition need almost three times as many votes in the lower house as a military party to be able to elect the next leader.

☆ Thailand election: Campaign freebies may be a 'band-aid solution' with fiscal risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A Thai protester with a sign calling for equal workers' rights and a fair election at a Labor Day rally in Bangkok in 2023. Experts widely agree that pro-democracy groups are expected to perform strongly in light of deep-seated discontent with the current military-affiliated administration. Contenders can be divided into two categories: parties that support the pro-military establishment and a pro-democracy camp of opposition factions. Few details have been provided about funding, worrying economists who say those policies would weigh on already stretched public finances after significant fiscal support during the pandemic. Only the Move Forward party has campaigned on changing the defamation law, while Pheu Thai previously said it will consider discussing it in Parliament.

☆ Thailand's Pita tops PM poll as opposition leads opinion surveys
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] FILE PHOTO-Pita Limjaroenrat, Move Forward Party's leader and prime ministerial candidate, reacts during an upcoming election campaign event in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2023. Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, the charismatic leader of the Move Forward party, jumped ahead of Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the main opposition Pheu Thai, with 29.37% support versus her 27.55% in a countrywide survey by Nation media group. Reuters GraphicsBoth polls showed the pro-military Palang Pracharat party, the Democrats and Bhumjaithai - current coalition partners - trailing the opposition by a large margin. Most experts believe Pheu Thai will need to form an alliance to govern and Paetongtarn on Wednesday hinted it could partner with Move Forward and ruled out military-backed parties. Separately, a Super Poll survey on parties released on Friday of 14,332 people also showed Pheu Thai leading with 139 of 500 parliamentary seats, followed by Bhumjaithai with 112 seats, and Move Forward with 63 seats.

[1/2] Anutin Charnvirakul, Bhumjaithai Party's leader and prime ministerial candidate, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand, April 10, 2023. This time, new election rules favour bigger parties, and Bhumjaithai has strengthened its slate of candidates to compete with larger opponents. "Last time, Bhumjaithai Party won millions of votes from people who believed in the benefits of marijuana," he said. Some small parties have suggested amending it and Pheu Thai has raised the possibility of discussing it in parliament. "Protecting the monarchy is an inspiration for the party," Anutin said.

[1/5] A woman works inside a cannabis shop, at Khaosan Road, one of the favourite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, March 29, 2023. Thousands of cannabis shops and businesses have sprung up, especially in Bangkok and tourist spots, since Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalise the drug. A deluge of marijuana smuggled in from abroad has swamped Thailand, driving down wholesale prices and hurting growers, the industry members said. He did not comment on the scale of smuggled cannabis in the market or its impact on farmers. "A lot of cannabis that's coming in from the U.S. is going to dispensaries in Bangkok or Phuket or Pattaya," she said.

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