Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin played down the gathering of cannabis advocacy groups outside Government House who are opposed to the relisting of the plant and vowed to stay put until a law to control its use was enacted.
The Ministry of Public Health is seeking to make regulatory changes where anyone possessing more than one methamphetamine tablet, rather than five or more tablets at present, will be regarded as an offender and not be sent to rehab.
Cannabis-related treatment costs rose from 3 billion to 20 billion baht last year due to a surge in usage among the population, says the Public Health Ministry.
Hundreds of cannabis entrepreneurs, farmers and activists rallied in Bangkok and threatened legal action against the government as it pushes ahead with a plan to reclassify marijuana as a narcotic just two years after decriminalising it.