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Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former junta leader who heads
a civilian government following March elections, is due to set out
the policies for debate in the national assembly on Thursday. The
policy document was released on Sunday.
Developing the medical cannabis industry was a key demand of the
Bhumjaithai party, one of the biggest parties in Prayuth's 19-party
coalition.
"The study and technological development of marijuana, hemp, and
other medicinal herbs should be sped up for the medical industry to
create economic opportunity and income for the people," the policy
document said.
Thailand, which had a tradition of using cannabis to relieve pain
and fatigue, legalized marijuana for medical use and research last
year.
Bhumjaithai party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, now a deputy prime
minister and health minister, said his goal was to enable all Thais
to grow marijuana to make money.
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Anutin told local media it was important to remove hemp with a high
level of cannabidiol (CBD) from the list of banned drugs for
cultivation and then to free up hospitals to prescribe drugs
containing the chemical compound.
Among other urgent government priorities were addressing drought,
labor and economic problems.
Also on the list was a study to amend a new constitution that
critics say preserves the hold of the military indefinitely. This
study had been a demand of another coalition partner, the Democrat
Party.
However, any constitutional changes would require the support of the
Senate - which is entirely made up of appointees of the previous
junta.
(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by
Matthew Tostevin and Michael Perry)
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