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Thais generally against regulated use of marijuana, poll finds
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
THE NATION
Most Thais are against the Public Health Ministry’s bill to regulate the use of marijuana, hemp and related products, a recent survey found.
The opinion poll, conducted by the Southeast Asia Study Centre of the Open Cyber University of Korea (OCU Poll) from September 21 to 23, covered 1,218 respondents from across the country. The results of the survey were released on Saturday.
The draft, labelled simply “marijuana and hemp” bill, was proposed by the Public Health Ministry which is under the Bhumjaithai Party. If enacted, the bill will regulate the use and sale of cannabis and hemp products after both plants were removed from the list of Category 5 narcotics in early June.
The bill was sent back to an ad hoc House panel for review after Democrat Party joined the opposition in voting against it. Democrat MPs voiced concerns that the bill would promote the recreational use of marijuana.
Though the survey results show that up to 87.27 per cent of the respondents disagree, the question may have been too ambiguous. It is not clear if those who said “no” to “do you agree with the free ganja bill or not?” actually disagree with the bill or recreational use of marijuana. Meanwhile, 10.92 per cent chose “yes”, while 1.81 per cent chose “no comment”.
In response to using marijuana for medical purposes, 88.01 per cent chose “yes”, while 10.34 per cent disagreed and 1.65 per cent had no comment.
For the third question, which asked if they think the “free use” of ganja will turn young people into addicts, up to 80.79 per cent said “yes”, 17.82 per cent said “no”, while the rest had no comment.
When asked how they think the “free use” of ganja will affect Thailand’s image, 15.68 per cent said it would boost the image, 71.02 per cent said it would damage the image and 13.30 per cent had no comment.
As for whether letting people grow marijuana at home for sale would improve people’s livelihood, 29.15 per cent said “yes”, 70.53 per cent said “no”, and 0.32 per cent chose “no comment”.
Bhumjaithai Party, whose election promise was to decriminalise marijuana, cried foul over the Democrat Party’s move, saying there may have been political motives behind it. The party insists the bill will promote the medical use of marijuana and its use as a cash crop. The party insisted the bill will not allow recreational use of the herb.
THE NATION
The agencies were placed on alert to provide emergency relief and drainage in flooded communities. They were also ordered to keep a close watch on water levels in the Chao Phraya dam and main rivers such as the Yom, Wang and Mool.
Separately, he instructed the NWRO and relevant government agencies to hasten remedial measures for Phetchabun farmers accused of encroaching on forest in Nam Nao, Khao Khor and Phu Thab Berg.
The monsoon trough is forecast to strengthen during the period and gusty winds are expected to create 2- to 3-metre-high waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Ships have been advised to proceed with caution, while small boats are advised to stay ashore.
