Thai cannabis activists protest against the renewed criminalization of marijuana with hunger strike. Health minister says this will not affect the government’s decision

Protests in Thailand are intensifying. Cannabis activists began a hunger strike on July 10 to demand that the government listen to their views after the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) decided to reclassify parts of the cannabis plant as a narcotic.

What happened: In June, The Thai government has issued a draft law that would reclassify cannabis as a narcotic effective January 1, 2025.According to the draft, the Ministry of Health will once again classify cannabis flowers as a “category five” narcotic.

The Thai Food and Drug Administration collected public feedback on the draft regulation between June 11 and 25. According to the Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, At least 80 percent of the 111,201 survey participants support a draft plan to reclassify the power plant.

However, not everyone supports the government’s decision. On July 8, about 100 members of the Thai Cannabis Future Networkled by Prasitchai Nunuanmarched from the United Nations headquarters to the government building to present a proposal to the government. Marijuana advocates are demanding that cannabis be regulated through a special law to address the current problems and they also demanded a scientific review.

Shortly thereafter, the hunger strike began. This week, the Thai Enquirer reported that one of the hunger strikers, Akkaradetch Chakjinda, was hospitalized after six days, but refused to be admitted and returned to the protest. The group moved its base tents closer to one of the entrances to the government building.