Government House, "Somsak" reveals that cannabis will be brought back to be a narcotic drug. Waiting to submit to the ONCB committee before announcing. Indicating that it is done according to the legal framework. Emphasizing that it is not related to capitalists. It is done to benefit the people. Insisting that it will not affect the relationship with "Bhumjaithai". Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin gave an interview to the media about the Narcotics Board's plan to bring cannabis back as a narcotic. He said that the matter has now been approved and must be submitted to the ONCB, which must submit the matter for consideration before announcing any substance or plant as a Category 5 narcotic. The Public Health Minister will be the one to make the announcement, which must first be approved by the ONCB. The meeting is expected to be held at the end of this month. If it is deemed to be a narcotic, a secondary law, a ministerial regulation, and four more announcements must be made, including the cultivatio n, which must be submitted to the Cabinet. However, the announcement of a Category 5 narcotic does not need to be submitted to the Cabinet because narcotics are dangerous and related to people. Therefore, the law is written to require the minister to act quickly. Mr. Somsak continued that the Narcotics Code has been in effect since December 9, 2021, for more than 2 years. It is considered the main law and there must be subsidiary laws that must be completed within 2 years. Today, it should be complete, but because we did not complete the subsidiary laws because the proposal to the House of Representatives at that time did not pass the law, it was not completed in time and could be extended for another year, which will expire on December 9, which is the Act on the Criteria for Drafting Laws and Evaluation of Law Results 2019. Therefore, when it is not completed in time, we must quickly issue an announcement to stop it. I think that if we see that cannabis is a problem, most people see it as still a problem. T herefore, we use the approach of issuing an announcement that it is a Category 5 narcotic in order to be in time within the 2 + 1 year time frame according to the conditions of the law. If it is to be issued as a law, it cannot be done in time because each law takes 2 years to enact. I emphasize that the core of the problem is that the people who consume these cannabis have lower IQs. Most people are still afraid. 'We are not blocking it as a drug forever. If in the next opportunity, the next government or the legislation, not just the government's legislation, is sent to the House of Representatives, all the citizens, tens of thousands of people, can sign their names to propose it as a law. And MPs in the House of Representatives can propose a law as a law in the name of a political party. They can propose it. But in terms of the government, we see that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages,' said Mr. Somsak. Mr. Somsak insisted that this matter is not related to big capitalists who have ordered it, bu t rather to benefit the general public. He himself has encountered the protesters today and wants recreation and entertainment for sick people who want to use cannabis. It must be accessible and not complicated, but the method depends on the writer. Mr. Somsak also confirmed that this matter does not have any problems with the coalition parties or the Bhumjaithai Party because he understands the conditions of the time and does not conflict with them. He himself has supported them from the beginning, but if they do not pass, it is not his fault, so he must take responsibility for society. Mr. Somsak emphasized that if cannabis is returned to being a drug, it will not affect business operators and those who have been released from cases of cannabis possession because there is a law to protect business operators. Just submit your intention and it will be considered a license. When asked if the protesters insist on staying in front of Government House until they get a clear answer, Mr. Somsak said that they wa nt to use it for recreation. We have studied the facts and have given the guidelines of Thai traditional medicine and alternative medicine. They have the authority and duty in various things that we are writing. If there are any doubts about going to the ONCB board, you can ask the FDA. Source: Thai News Agency