Latest news with #Anutin
Online Citizen
17 hours ago
- Health
- Online Citizen
Thai health minister reaffirms move to reclassify marijuana as narcotic, blocking Bhumjaithai's bill
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin has confirmed the Thai government's plan to reclassify marijuana as a Category 5 narcotic, a decisive reversal of the cannabis liberalisation policy introduced in 2022. In a statement made on 18 June 2025, Somsak reiterated his intention to prohibit recreational cannabis use and criticised the Bhumjaithai Party's cannabis policy as the cause of widespread regulatory and social issues. He also declared that the party's Cannabis Control Bill, aimed at regulating the plant's use post-decriminalisation, would not be passed under the current government. According to The Nation, speaking at Government House, Somsak described the Bhumjaithai-led bill as 'a daydream' and said its proposed enactment was unrealistic given the current administration's stance. According to Somsak, the initial failure to enact proper regulations after cannabis was removed from the narcotics list in 2022 led to a chaotic situation, with over 10,000 cannabis shops operating without clear oversight. The plant had been removed from Category 5 of the Narcotics Code under the leadership of Anutin Charnvirakul, then Public Health Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party. Anutin's push was initially justified as promoting medical use and economic growth, but critics argue it inadvertently created a legal grey area that fuelled unregulated access. Somsak accused Anutin of failing to issue the necessary ministerial regulations to control cannabis use, which he claims undermined public safety and regulatory discipline. He denied that his current crackdown on cannabis is politically motivated, despite its timing shortly after Bhumjaithai's exit from the ruling coalition. 'This is not political. It's a chronic problem. The government has received a large number of complaints related to cannabis abuse,' Somsak stated. The Srettha Thavisin administration had previously designated cannabis as a 'controlled herb' under the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Protection Act. While this allowed cannabis shops to operate, Somsak noted it lacked adequate legal frameworks to restrict usage to medical contexts. On 17 June 2025, Somsak signed an order requiring anyone seeking to purchase cannabis for medical purposes to present a doctor's prescription and a certified medical condition. New rules will also be introduced for cannabis shops. These include mandatory on-site doctors, monthly inspections, and a strict two-strike policy under which licences will be revoked if shops are found in breach twice. The regulation will be enacted via ministerial directive following public consultations, which were held from 22 May to 10 June. According to Somsak, the majority of public opinion supported stricter cannabis controls. The tightening of cannabis policy has led to renewed tensions with Bhumjaithai. Supachai Jaisamut, a senior figure in the party, has criticised the Ministry of Public Health for failing to establish proper regulation following cannabis's delisting. He reiterated that Bhumjaithai supported cannabis use solely for medical purposes and had sought to manage its use via the 2021 Cannabis Control Bill. He further highlighted that the bill had received parliamentary approval, including votes from Pheu Thai MPs, pointing to political inconsistency. The cannabis issue has exposed deeper rifts within the government. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who took over as prime minister after Srettha's departure, initially attempted to strike a balance by supporting cannabis for medical and economic purposes. However, with Bhumjaithai no longer part of the coalition, Somsak has returned to a stricter approach, supported by Prime Minister Paetongtarn, who instructed him to conduct reviews and enforce tighter controls. Discussions between Somsak and Paetongtarn's advisory team concluded on 14 May 2025 that cannabis should be limited strictly to medical use. The reclassification of marijuana under Category 5 is expected to proceed in the near future, though no exact timeline has been given. The announcement signals a full-scale rollback of cannabis liberalisation in Thailand and marks a definitive end to Bhumjaithai's flagship policy, at least under the current administration.
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Thai Cabinet rift over Interior Ministry post risks shaking ruling coalition
BANGKOK: Thailand's ruling party and its top coalition partner are clashing over a key ministerial post, as a looming cabinet shakeup by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra threatens to shift alliances and unsettle the conservative establishment. The feud between Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party and its conservative coalition partner Bhumjaithai escalated this week, with Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul (pic) threatening to quit the alliance if he loses the Interior Ministry post. The ruling party has countered by warning it may expel Bhumjaithai if it rejects a proposed swap of two Pheu Thai posts for Anutin's role by Thursday (June 19), according to a local media report. "Bhumjaithai certainly won't give it up,' Anutin told reporters after a cabinet meeting Tuesday when asked about the feud. "If you don't keep up your end of the bargain, it will be difficult for you to form a government in the future.' Paetongtarn didn't respond to questions from reporters on Wednesday about Anutin's threat. The risk of a fresh spell of political instability may weigh on foreign investors who have dumped Thai stocks on concerns the US threat of a 36% tariff will worsen the outlook for growth and hurt company earnings. Thailand's benchmark stock index is down 20% this year and is among the worst performers globally. Bhumjaithai's exit, though unlikely to bring down the government, could weaken the fragile coalition formed through a deal between royalist conservatives and ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the ruling party's key power broker. The pact let Thaksin return from 15 years of self-imposed exile after he fled in 2008 to avoid corruption charges. The interior minister post, which oversees local administration, is seen as one of the most powerful roles in the cabinet. It offers access to local power brokers seen as crucial to shaping future elections, with the next vote expected in 2027. Without Bhumjaithai's 69 lawmakers, the Pheu Thai-led coalition would hold only a slim majority, down from nearly two-thirds of the 500-member House of Representatives. That could complicate passage of key bills in July, including a controversial proposal to legalise casinos and the next fiscal year's budget. For now, it's unclear if the parties can mend ties after past clashes over charter changes and cannabis laws. Tensions rose further this week as Anutin and other Bhumjaithai officials were summoned in a Senate vote-rigging probe, which he called a political attack. Anutin said the Interior Ministry issue wasn't discussed in his talk with the prime minister and that he was responding to media speculation. Pheu Thai Party faces other issues, legal troubles for both Paetongtarn and Thaksin, sluggish economic growth, and growing pressure to address border tensions with Cambodia and trade talks with the US. "It's better to stick together based on agreements and understanding,' Anutin said. - Bloomberg
Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Thai Cabinet rift over key post risks shaking ruling bloc
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul (centre) has threatened to quit the alliance if he loses the Interior Ministry post. PHOTO: EPA-EFE BANGKOK – Thailand's ruling party and its top coalition partner are clashing over a key ministerial post, as a looming Cabinet shakeup by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra threatens to shift alliances and unsettle the conservative establishment. The feud between Thailand's ruling Pheu Thai Party and its conservative coalition partner Bhumjaithai escalated this week, with Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul threatening to quit the alliance if he loses the Interior Ministry post. The ruling party has countered by warning it may expel Bhumjaithai if it rejects a proposed swop of two Pheu Thai posts for Mr Anutin's role by June 19, according to a local media report. 'Bhumjaithai certainly won't give it up,' Mr Anutin told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on June 17 when asked about the feud. 'If you don't keep up your end of the bargain, it will be difficult for you to form a government in the future.' Ms Paetongtarn didn't respond to questions from reporters on June 18 about Mr Anutin's threat. The risk of a fresh spell of political instability may weigh on foreign investors who have dumped Thai stocks on concerns the US threat of a 36 per cent tariff will worsen the outlook for growth and hurt company earnings. Thailand's benchmark stock index is down 20 per cent in 2025 and is among the worst performers globally. Bhumjaithai's exit, though unlikely to bring down the government, could weaken the fragile coalition formed through a deal between royalist conservatives and ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the ruling party's key power broker. The pact let Mr Thaksin return from 15 years of self-imposed exile after he fled in 2008 to avoid corruption charges. The interior minister post, which oversees local administration, is seen as one of the most powerful roles in the Cabinet. It offers access to local power brokers seen as crucial to shaping future elections, with the next vote expected in 2027. Without Bhumjaithai's 69 lawmakers, the Pheu Thai-led coalition would hold only a slim majority, down from nearly two-thirds of the 500-member House of Representatives. That could complicate passage of key Bills in July, including a controversial proposal to legalise casinos and the next fiscal year's budget. For now, it's unclear if the parties can mend ties after past clashes over charter changes and cannabis laws. Tensions rose further this week as Mr Anutin and other Bhumjaithai officials were summoned in a Senate vote-rigging probe, which he called a political attack. Mr Anutin said the Interior Ministry issue wasn't discussed in his talk with the prime minister and that he was responding to media speculation. Pheu Thai party faces other issues, legal troubles for both Ms Paetongtarn and Mr Thaksin, sluggish economic growth, and growing pressure to address border tensions with Cambodia and trade talks with the US. 'It's better to stick together based on agreements and understanding,' Mr Anutin said. BLOOMBERG Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
