Thai lawmakers are retiring a law regulating cannabis

A bill that would have brought greater regulation of cannabis use in the country was withdrawn by lawmakers in Thailand on Wednesday, the government’s latest attempt to rein in the burgeoning marijuana industry.

Bloomberg reports that lawmakers “voted 198 to 136 in the House of Representatives to withdraw the bill and return it to the drafting committee for further revision late Wednesday.”

The bill “passed first reading in June and should give the government more control over the industry” and “can now be reintroduced in November,” according to Bloomberg.

“The law does not control cannabis, in fact it encourages it and leaves room for its uses, from medicinal to extremely recreational,” said Thai lawmaker Sutin Klangsang, as quoted by Bloomberg. “We are afraid that children and people will smoke it and become addicted.”

The proposed law follows the Thai government’s June decision to decriminalize marijuana, making it the first country in Asia to do so.

The new policy has led to the opening of several cannabis cafes in the country’s capital, Bangkok, much to the dismay of government officials there.

Last month, Thailand’s Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued a blunt message to potential tourists wishing to visit the country for a one-way train.

“We don’t welcome that type of tourist,” Anutin told reporters at the time.

The new decriminalization law removed cannabis from the country’s list of banned substances, but officials like Anutin at the time insisted that it should not be construed as legalizing recreational marijuana use.

“It’s a no,” Anutin said in June. “We still have laws that control the consumption, smoking, or use of cannabis products in non-productive ways.”

“We [have always] emphasized the use of cannabis extracts and raw materials for medicinal purposes and for health,” continued Anutin. “There has never been a moment when we have thought about getting people to use cannabis recreationally – or to use it in a way that might irritate others.”

He added: “Thailand will promote a cannabis policy for medicinal purposes. if [tourists] If you are coming for medical treatment or health related products then that is not a problem but if you think you want to come to Thailand just because you have heard that cannabis or marijuana is legal… [or] Coming to Thailand to smoke free joints is wrong. Do not come. We will not welcome you if you come to this country just for that purpose.”

But perhaps unsurprisingly, that’s exactly what happened in the months following the passage of the new law.

Reuters reported last month that the new measure “has led to an explosion in recreational use,” although “government officials — concerned about the negative health and productivity effects often associated with uncontrolled use of the drug — balk[s]trying to discourage.”

This laid the foundations for MPs to get a grip on the new law this week.

Bloomberg has more details on the law, which fizzled on Wednesday: “The parties opposed to the cannabis law as it stands have threatened to vote against the law unless the revised version would.” stop recreational smoking. They are also opposed to a clause allowing households to register and grow up to 15 cannabis plants. Opposition to the law was also seen as a political wrangling ahead of general elections scheduled for March. Passing the bill would mean another victory for Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai party, which led the drafting of the bill and cited cannabis liberalization as part of their campaign promises in the 2019 general election.”