The Paradox in Drug Policymaking: Comparative Study of Cannabis Policy and Tobacco Policy in 2017-2023

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 20th century, drug law reform has been widely discussed in many countries for medical purposes and decriminalization. However, the selection of certain plants from the list of addictive substances in Thai society serves the interests of certain groups of people. This article therefore aims to study the paradox in drug policymaking in Thailand in 2017-2023 by comparing cannabis and tobacco policies by documentary research and applying the concept of legalization and the elite model are used as analytical frameworks. The results of the study found that 1) The government has encouraged people to grow cannabis as an economic crop, is ready to drive the unlocking of cannabis using the channels of the Ministry of Public Health including pushing for free cannabis laws as a reform law, which is a special mechanism that shortens the consideration of draft laws. However, the draft Cannabis and Hemp Act B.E....., which is a specific law to control the use of cannabis, has not been considered along with it. This creates a vacuum in preventing impacts on society. At the same time, elite network groups had been preparing to set up cannabis business companies only a few months before the Ministry of Public Health announced the unlocking of cannabis. 2) On the contrary, the government has tightened measures to control cigarette consumption through tax restructuring measures. As a result, the Tobacco Authority of Thailand, tobacco farmers and the government lost huge amounts of revenue.