The Prayut Chan-o-cha government has no need to reverse the decriminalisation of cannabis, as demanded by groups of doctors and medical personnel, which would certainly cause public confusion.
What is needed is proper regulation of its usage, while ensuring all loopholes are properly dealt with until a bill on this controversial plant which is being vetted in parliament is promulgated.
Leading the anti-cannabis move, supported by over 850 doctors and staff at Ramathibodi Hospital, is Smith Srisont, president of the Forensic Physicians Association of Thailand.
On Monday, the group submitted their demand together with a list of signatures to the government, citing concerns about abuse by young people.
The campaign follows previous reports about cannabis sales on school premises, albeit on a small scale, after decriminalisation took effect on June 9.
They said cannabis can have a negative impact on younger people's physical and mental development. The group expressed concern that unless access is tightly controlled, the bold policy will lead to widespread recreational use, not medicinal purposes as originally intended.
The decriminalisation of cannabis and hemp is a flagship policy of the Bhumjaithai Party, a major coalition partner.
Despite its strong push, however, the policy has experienced a series of challenges from state agencies that still want to ban the plant under the narcotics law.
Before June 9, people who wished to register their cannabis plantation in accordance with the policy on medicinal use encountered so many obstacles that the process was reportedly next to impossible. Now those obstacles have been removed.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has declared all 437 schools under its jurisdiction as no-cannabis zones.
Food vendors are also prohibited from using cannabis as an ingredient for food and drinks. Schools must work with parents and other agencies to keep cannabis off their premises.
Several state agencies, such as the military and health agencies, have also implemented similar restrictions.
Cannabis abuse results from weak or no enforcement of such regulations, and the problems should be solved accordingly. Needless to say, the group's concerns miss the mark.
It should be noted that after the historic easing of the narcotic laws, the government put in place a Royal Gazette notice prohibiting people under 20 from trading or possessing cannabis. Pregnant women and mothers who breastfeed their children are also banned from buying it.
Moreover, cannabis extracts with over 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are still considered a narcotic and possession is illegal.
In short, regulating the use of cannabis under the existing legal mechanism, rather than reinstating a total ban, is of the utmost importance.
The government and related agencies need to take tough, proactive measures to ensure there is no abuse of cannabis, such as driving under the influence or underage consumption, and ensure strict product labelling, especially on food and beverages, to protect those who are allergic or especially sensitive to the substance.
On top of that, the government and all concerned should help out with public education to prevent cannabis abuse.
