r/CannabisThailand Newsletter - Issue #46

Situation still unclear

May 21, 2023

Sawadee Everyone,

Last Sunday's election in Thailand brought unexpected twists and turns, leaving everyone on their toes. Move Forward (MF) took the top spot, surpassing expectations. Pheu Thai (PT) not only lost but also came in second to MF. Bhumjaithai (BJT) secured the expected third position, albeit with fewer seats than anticipated. MF's surprising victory has implications for the cannabis community, so let's delve into the current state of affairs and MF's stance on cannabis.

To form a government, MF needs 376 votes, which they fell short of despite their success. They promptly announced a partnership with PT, aiming to make Pita Limjaroenrat the next Prime Minister. However, the road got bumpy for MF. Initially, they claimed to partner with five parties, later expanding to seven. But the honeymoon phase ended abruptly when they faced social media backlash for inviting a small party with former Democrat members. Populism can be unpredictable, and MF had to backtrack and uninvite them.

Furthermore, some coalition members demanded a commitment to uphold the monarchy, while MF campaigned for monarchy reform. To resolve the dilemma, MF stated that supporting their reforms would not be mandatory for coalition members, but whether this satisfies concerned parties remains to be seen. The bigger challenge lies in the fact that even if the coalition holds, MF is still far from the required 376 votes.

Their only chance with the current coalition is to win over appointed senators, who lean towards the monarchy and military. Convincing approximately 70 senators out of 250 might be an arduous task. Some senators have already expressed a firm "no" stance, while a few have given vague indications of serving the will of the people. MF quickly began positioning their win as the will of the people, but that's not how politics, especially Thai politics, works.

All parties and candidates owe it to the voters who supported them, and they are not obligated to back MF's coalition just because MF received the most votes. While MF's win is impressive for a young party, it falls short of a mandate. If they had secured 250-300 seats, it would have been a different story. However, they only achieved 113 seats and 39 party-list members, which is half of what they would need to make the bold claims echoed by the Thai media.

Now, let's address the burning question: Is MF against cannabis? Many have speculated, but a visit to MF's website sheds light on their position. According to Pita Limjaroenrat, MF believes cannabis has both benefits and harms. They envision Thailand becoming Asia's medical cannabis hub and even support tourism-related marijuana, provided the benefits are increased while minimizing the harms gradually.

Contrary to popular belief, Pita's objection is not to cannabis itself but rather the uncontrolled unlocking of it without proper regulations. This criticism is shared even by those in the cannabis industry who believe some level of regulation is necessary to eliminate bad actors. Currently, anyone can grow cannabis without quality control or adherence to safety standards, which poses risks.

The industry, both investors and legitimate operators, has been eagerly awaiting regulations to establish a clear framework. Without enforcement and compliance measures, there are two types of players in the cannabis space: those who follow vague regulations and those who disregard them. Therefore, MF's position seems to revolve around implementing a structured transition from illegal to medical to eventual recreational use of cannabis.

The political landscape in Thailand remains uncertain, resembling a Thai soap opera drama. As the situation develops, we'll continue watching the political maneuvers, knowing that BJT holds a valuable position in determining the outcome. Whether it turns out to be a comedy or drama,

Cheers,

u/CannabisThailandMod

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