The Bhumjaithai Party has reaffirmed its support for restricting cannabis to medical use and urged parliament to prioritise a new medical cannabis bill when the House of Representatives reconvenes in August.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, party-list MP Supachai Jaisamut said Bhumjaithai submitted the bill to the House last week to close legal loopholes that have allowed widespread recreational use since cannabis was removed from the narcotics list.
He said public debate had created the wrong impression that Bhumjaithai supported unrestricted cannabis use and was responsible for problems that have emerged in the industry.
Mr Suphachai said the party's original policy was to expand patients' access to alternative treatments, promote medical research and innovation, and create economic opportunities for farmers and legitimate businesses.
He said removing cannabis from the narcotics list was never intended to permit unrestricted use. Instead, the party had consistently pushed for a dedicated law governing cultivation, production, distribution, advertising, prescriptions and consumption.
Bhumjaithai first proposed such legislation in 2022, but the bill failed to pass because of political disagreements. As a result, Thailand has spent more than two years with regulatory gaps that have fuelled illegal cannabis shops, recreational use and weak enforcement, he said.
Rather than assigning blame, Mr Supachai urged all parties to work together to pass comprehensive legislation.
The proposed law would restrict cannabis to medical use, require prescriptions from qualified medical professionals, ban sales to children and young people, prohibit advertising that encourages misuse and impose penalties for violations.
Mr Suphachai said a clear regulatory framework would also support Thailand's ambition to become a regional hub for medical cannabis research, pharmaceutical production and value-added agricultural products.
"The right policy should not force a choice between patients and society," he said, adding that patients should retain access to medical cannabis while children and young people receive stronger legal protection.
