Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on Wednesday a survey of about 100,000 people found most respondents wanted the recriminalisation of cannabis, and he would make it happen.

Mr Somsak said on Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration conducted the opinion survey for the Public Health Ministry from June 11-25.

According to the health minister, 80% of the respondents supported the recriminalisation of cannabis.

Mr Somsak said he would proceed with recriminalisation, but the Narcotics Control Board would make the final decision.

The minister said that the government supported cannabis use for medical, health and economic benefits and relevant regulations would be issued.

The Bhumjaithai Party successfully pushed for the decriminalisation of cannabis in June 2022 during the previous government. That led to mushrooming cannabis shops along streets and concerns from medical authorities about the impact on young people.

Last month Mr Somsak said that cannabis use among young adults had increased 10-fold in the two years since it was decriminalised.