Public hearing on growing ganja at home has begun

These are photos which only a few years earlier might have been unimaginable.

A deputy prime minister and minister of health who waves, admires and refers to marihuana plants in Thailand. And proclaiming his intention for the pharmaceutical sector to ease restrictions on private cannabis growing, and even large-scale farming.

The guy in the pictures is Anutin Charnvirakul who received critical coverage after his comments regarding outsiders and masks during the coronavirus pandemic. Anutin-a billionaire who was welcomed into the cabinet as the leader of the Bhumjaithai party-ran to power on an election platform to lighten restrictions surrounding ganja growth and usage.

Throughout the country, billboards with ganja leaves were installed as his party gained political influence by marketing the plant as a cash crop and proposing that private individuals might cultivate up to six plants for their own usage.

Now, after the coronavirus pandemic for the past few months seems to have put the issue on the back foot, the issue is once again in the public eye at the front and centre.

Any cannabis-based drugs are now legally accessible but the private cannabis rising problem is on the table now.

Opinions are being obtained in support of two areas at this point. First, it is to encourage people who have chronic problems to cultivate cannabis for their own use and who have earned doctor's certificates.

Secondly, it is to give farmers the right to grow cannabis for supply to the pharmaceutical industry and to Thai hospitals, herbalists and local doctors, so that it can be prescribed for medical purposes.

The public hearing is a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health and the administration of food and drugs, in line with government policy. Comments regarding the topic can be posted on the website of the latter from now until June 9, during which the next level of deliberations will take place.

Anutin was keen to note that in making the requisite amendments to the legislation, he supports laws such that the private development of the product and full-scale cultivation will take effect , giving farmers a welcome cash boost.

Daily News confirmed that today's public hearing is underway to press forward on the next step of the regulation advancement of a substance that has seen patients prosecuted and manufacturers and traffickers jailed for lengthy transgression sentences.

His pledge to campaign promised ALL Thais can grow six plants. The Daily News story did not contain any reference to many 's wishes that ganja could possibly be legalized and even grown by the public in the future for more widespread recreational use.

Source Daily News