Showing 1 - 10 of 45
Decriminalising sex work needs clarity
Oped, Poramet Tangsathaporn, Published on 04/02/2026
» The world's oldest profession has always been a taboo subject in Thai society, even in our politics so it was encouraging to see at least five political parties -- the Pheu Thai Party, the People's Party, the Movement Party, the Thai Sang Thai Party, and the Democrat Party -- agree that the current Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996) needs to be repealed.
An Asean free from 'wars on drugs'
Oped, Gloria Lai, Published on 19/09/2025
» Asean governments recently met in Singapore for a regional meeting about drugs, where the host nation urged renewed commitment to a "drug-free region". The problem isn't simply the recycling of an outdated mantra first declared in 1998, nor the fact that the region's drug markets have only expanded since then, but that this approach ignores how government policies themselves shape those markets -- and the devastating harms that follow.
Not about safety
Postbag, Published on 12/07/2025
» Re: "Safer tourism needed now", (Editorial, July 11).
Should non-medicinal weed be legal?
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 09/06/2025
» The issue of narcotics is not only a law enforcement and medical issue. It is also a historical, political and economic issue. A recurrent dilemma is whether personal, non-medical use of "weed" or cannabis (which is generally seen as a softer drug, when compared with harder drugs such as methamphetamine), should be legal. Thailand is still in the quest for a balanced answer, and this is shaped by political and economic ambivalence.
Entertainment complex plan needs rejig
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 21/09/2024
» The contentious casino entertainment complex project has become one of the top 10 priorities for the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government.
The economic benefits of cannabis
Oped, Sutthida Lertrujwanich, Watcharin Tantisan & Nonarit Bisonyabut, Published on 19/06/2024
» Thailand is at a crossroads between accepting cannabis as a new kind of product or restricting its usage only to medical needs. Social views are divided: one side focuses on the negative effects on society, such as negative impacts on family and community relationships, while the other side stresses the positive effects, including easier and cheaper access for medical uses and contributions to the economy in terms of production, employment, and tourism-related activities.
Thailand's weed legalisation dilemma
Oped, Nuttanan Wichitaksorn, Published on 05/06/2024
» When cannabis or ganja was legalised (the plant was removed from the illicit drugs list) in 2022 by the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, this led to mass confusion whereby the public misunderstood and perceived it as "liberalisation". This resulted in widespread and unregulated cannabis consumption.
Senators send the 'old man' a warning
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 27/05/2024
» It was a close call. Five against four was the vote by the nine Constitutional Court judges when they decided not to suspend Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin from performing his duties after they voted 6:3 to accept for consideration the petition of 40 senators demanding the removal of the prime minister for allegedly violating ethical standards in appointing Phichit Chuenban as PM's Office Minister.
Thailand's cannabis U-turn is a cautionary tale
News, Karishma Vaswani, Published on 20/05/2024
» Turns out you can have too much of a good thing. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ordered a U-turn on the country's landmark cannabis policy, saying the plant should be soon classified as a narcotic again and its use limited to medical and health purposes.