Cannabis Network Protests Strict Controls at Ministry of Public Health, Citing Corruption

Prachachat•Politics•17d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai cannabis advocates protested at the Ministry of Public Health, claiming new regulations unfairly benefit large corporations and push small businesses underground, leading to increased corruption.

•A cannabis network, 'Thai Cannabis Future Builders,' protested at the Ministry of Public Health against strict regulations on cannabis.
•The network argues that the new laws are designed by corporate interests and naive officials, benefiting big players and increasing corruption.
•Protesters advocate for fair and accessible laws that allow small businesses and individuals to operate legally, preventing the growth of an uncontrolled underground market.

Overview

•On an unspecified date, the 'Thai Cannabis Future Builders' network, led by Ms. Chor Kwan Chorphaka, submitted a letter to the Ministry of Public Health.
•The 'Thai Cannabis Future Builders' stated that the problem of cannabis stems from monopolistic laws not aligned with reality, driven by cannabis capital groups and naive doctors.
•The 'Thai Cannabis Future Builders' spent three years understanding cannabis users and encouraging them to enter the legal system, receiving significant positive responses.
•The 'Thai Cannabis Future Builders' traveled nationwide to draft a cannabis bill and proposed ministerial regulations and announcements to control cannabis before the main bill takes effect.
•The 'Thai Cannabis Future Builders' claim their efforts were destroyed by doctors at the Ministry of Public Health who issued monopolistic laws favoring a single group under the guise of 'medical cannabis,' which they describe as fake medicine for profit.
•The Ministry of Public Health, represented by Dr. Peeracha Kugasemkit, acknowledged the network's concerns as good and beneficial observations, especially regarding the impact on operators and cultivators, promising to consider them for clarification and system improvement.
•Public hearings for the draft cannabis bill will continue until July 17, 2026.
•Ms. Chor Kwan Chorphaka stated that the draft cannabis bill is not a result of genuine public consultation but rather a repackaged version of an old draft from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine that has been pending for two years.

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Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Chor Kwan Chorphaka

"'Distorted rules increase the price of corruption.'"

“กติกาบิดเบี้ยว เพิ่มราคาคอร์รัปชัน”

Chor Kwan Chorphaka

"'Medical cannabis is a form of deception to make society complacent that the ministry has advanced cannabis to medical use.'"

“กัญชาทางการแพทย์คือความหลอกลวงชนิดหนึ่งเพื่อให้สังคมตายใจว่ากระทรวงได้ขับเคลื่อนให้กัญชาเป็นกัญชาทางการแพทย์แล้ว”

Chor Kwan Chorphaka

"'When the ministry pushes the majority outside the legal mechanism, the underground system will emerge, and the state cannot control this system.'"

“เมื่อกระทรวงผลักคนส่วนใหญ่ให้อยู่นอกกลไกของกฎหมาย ระบบใต้ดินจะเกิดขึ้นและระบบนี้รัฐจะควบคุมอะไรไม่ได้”

Chor Kwan Chorphaka

"'Currently, people doing small businesses are the ones being punished, having their shops closed, and licenses suspended because they cannot access unreasonable rules or standards.'"

“ตอนนี้ประชาชนที่ทำธุรกิจเล็กๆ น้อยๆ คือคนที่ถูกลงโทษ ถูกปิดร้าน ถูกพักใช้ใบอนุญาต เพราะเขาไม่สามารถเข้าถึงกฎหรือมาตรฐานที่ไม่สมเหตุสมผล”

Chor Kwan Chorphaka

"'Issuing such rules does not tighten control; it merely increases the price of corruption.'"

“การออกกฎแบบนี้มาไม่ได้ทำให้ควบคุมกระชับขึ้น มันแค่เพิ่มราคาในการทำคอร์รัปชัน”

Key Entities

Organization

Thai Cannabis Future Builders Network(เครือข่ายเขียนอนาคตกัญชาไทย)

A network advocating for fair cannabis laws and opposing strict regulations that favor large corporations.

Ministry of Public Health(กระทรวงสาธารณสุข)ℹ️

The government ministry involved in regulating cannabis and receiving a protest letter from the Thai Cannabis Future Builders Network.

Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine(กรมการแพทย์แผนไทยและการแพทย์ทางเลือก)

A department within the Ministry of Public Health whose director commented on the cannabis regulations and presented a draft bill.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการอาหารและยา (อย.))ℹ️

An agency that was involved in announcing deadlines for cannabis permits, which the protesters claim was circumvented by large corporations.

Person

Ms. Chor Kwan Chorphaka(น.ส.ช่อขวัญ ช่อผกา)

President of the Thai Cannabis Future Builders Network and a key speaker at the protest, criticizing current cannabis regulations.

Mr. Pongthorn Tangbowornpaisarn(นายพงศ์ธร ตั้งบวรไพศาล)

Coordinator for the Thai Cannabis Future Builders Network, providing insights on market dynamics and political maneuvering related to cannabis.

Mr. Phatthanaphong Phatthanathum(นายพัฒนา พร้อมพัฒน์)

Minister of Public Health, to whom the protest letter was addressed concerning cannabis regulations.

Dr. Peeracha Kugasemkit(นายแพทย์พีรชา คูเกษมกิจ)

Director of the Medical Cannabis Division, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, who received the letter and commented on the network's concerns.

Mrs. Nitistha Roboon(นางนิสิตา รอบุญ)

Head of the Minister's Office at the Ministry of Public Health, who was present to receive the letter.

Law

Cannabis Act(พ.ร.บ.กัญชา)

The proposed legislation governing cannabis use and regulation in Thailand, which is the subject of the protest and discussion.

Ministerial Regulations(กฎกระทรวง)

Subordinate legislation that critics argue is being used to create monopolistic control over cannabis, overriding beneficial provisions.

Draft Bill on Cannabis Control(ร่าง พ.ร.บ.ควบคุมกัญชา)

The current draft cannabis bill being reviewed by the cabinet, which critics argue lacks public input and is recycled from previous versions.