Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul has stepped in to help Daycha Siripatra and his aide after they were charged for possessing marijuana plants and extracts following a raid at their office that raised questions about the real motive of the authorities.
Mr Anutin on Sunday wrote on his Facebook page that he would help Mr Daycha and Pornchai Chulert of the Khaokwan Foundation win release on bail and fight the case.
"I am ready to be the guarantor and fight the case for Daycha Siripatra and Pornchai Chulert," he said.
The offer came as non-governmental organisations are raising funds to help the two.
Authorities led by Narcotics Control Board officials searched the foundation in Muang district in Suphan Buri on Wednesday and seized 205 marijuana plants, oil extracted from marijuana and capsules containing marijuana.
Mr Pornchai, who is a foundation staff member, was charged at Sa Kaew police station in Suphan Buri with possessing marijuana and producing products from the plants without authorisation. He is detained in the provincial court jail.
Mr Daycha, the foundation chairman, was travelling on foundation business to Laos at the time of the raid. He is required to meet the police to hear the charges after he returns to the country. His current whereabouts are unclear.
Mr Daycha is a famous rice expert and biodiversity advocate with specialised knowledge on cultivation without chemical fertilisers. He and his foundation have experimented with providing marijuana for medical purposes to sick people for free, without any reported problems.
The timing of the raid at the foundation has raised eyebrows amongst activists and doctors, coming shortly after the law on allowing marijuana to be used for medical and research purposes took effect in February.
Some have accused the authorities of taking legal action against the foundation to warn other local producers planning to make marijuana for medical purposes to scrap their own plans, letting big pharmaceutical firms seize the business opportunity to control the market.
"Archan Daycha has grown and studied marijuana to cure diseases for years. Why is action being taken against him now? It might be because big investors are planning to monopolise the medical marijuana business and they want to make this an example (of why small producers should give up)," Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, an award-winning rural doctor, commented on his Facebook page on Saturday.
Dr Supat's comment echoes social activist Rosana Tositrakul, who said the legal action against the foundation founder reflected a bid by big businesses to gain control of the lucrative business.
The new law gives those possessing marijuana for non-commercial purposes until May to register with authorities, meaning the foundation still has time to register.
Ms Rosana said authorities should start cracking down after the end of the grace period.
Promoting equal access to cultivating marijuana as a cash crop is one of the flagship policies of Bhumjaithai. Mr Auntin promised on Sunday to push it into law after Parliament convenes.
Biothai, an advocacy group, posted a message on its Facebook page on Sunday supporting all political parties that would guarantee open access to cultivate medical marijuana, and make medicines from both marijuana and hemp, in order to prevent monopoly.
It said it will seek bail for Mr Pornchai at the court on Monday by using money from donations.
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