On May 14 and 15, 2024, the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) conducted an opinion survey revealing significant public support for the government’s policy to reclassify cannabis as a Category 5 narcotic. The survey, which interviewed 1,310 people over 15 from various educational, occupational, and social backgrounds, showed that less than 10% of respondents disagreed with the policy.
The survey highlighted that 74.58% of respondents believe cannabis has medical benefits and can treat certain diseases. However, 19.39% felt the government should not support cannabis or its products.
When asked about the reclassification of cannabis as a Category 5 substance, 60.38% fully supported the policy, 15.27% supported it somewhat, while 14.50% were completely opposed, and 8.93% disagreed to some extent. Additionally, 53.74% viewed cannabis as a useful narcotic, 33.59% did not see it as useful at all, and 11.60% stated that cannabis is not a narcotic.
Regarding compensation for those who have invested in cultivating or producing cannabis products, 44.95% disagreed with the idea, whereas 35% believed the government should provide compensation.
The survey also explored personal experiences with cannabis. It found that 68.93% of respondents had never tried cannabis, 37.07% had used it for food or recreational purposes, 52.58% had experienced it in cooking or beverages, and 15.97% had used it for therapeutic reasons.
NIDA reported a margin of error for the survey at 3%. The results will likely influence ongoing debates and policies concerning cannabis use and regulation in Thailand.
Nikorn Jamnong, chairman of the House sub-committee on politically motivated cases, mentioned that the majority of the House committee supported the establishment of an amnesty panel. This sub-committee should categorize actions and present them to the main House committee for a vote on whether the panel should function in an administrative capacity. The vote is scheduled for next Thursday.
