Chuwit leads students in protest against Bhumjaithai over ganja abuse by youth

Chuwit, a former politician and former massage parlour owner, led the students and parents to hold a press conference at the Chamai Maruchet Bridge opposite Government House.

They brought with them some pots of marijuana plants that they chopped in a symbolic protest against what they called the “free ganja” policy of the Bhumjaithai.

In the election campaign before the 2019 general election, Bhumjaithai promised to remove marijuana and hemp from the Category 5 Narcotics List so that the two plants could be used for medical purposes and for other industries to generate income for the country.

The party, which controls the Public Health Ministry, kept its promise last year when Bhumjaithai leader and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued a directive to the Public Health Ministry to remove the two plants from the national drug list.

After the two plants were decriminalised, police stopped arresting people having possession of hemp and ganja, or who smoked the leaves. This prompted teachers, parents and doctors to cry foul that there was no law to control children and youths from abusing the plants.

Anutin argued that his party’s policy was mainly about using the plants for medical use, not for recreational purpose.

Anutin also issued another directive to control the use of the two plants pending the enactment of a marijuana and hemp bill to control the use.

But the bill has lapsed following strong opposition from ruling coalition partner Democrat Party and the opposition now that the House no longer has more meetings scheduled.

Speaking at the press conference, Chuwit said he was not against the policy of using marijuana for medical purpose but he was against the free use of ganja that would affect youths.

He said youths and children could easily buy ganja for smoking and police refused to arrest the sellers as there was no law to control it.

Chuwit said the directive of the Public Health Ministry could not be used to effectively prevent abuses of the plants.

Last week, Chuwit posted on his Facebook wall that he would burn down the “rat” nest with his rally. Anutin’s nickname “Noo” means rat.

Students, who joined the protest, concealed their faces under flu masks and caps.

A student representative read from a statement, calling on the Public Health Ministry to have clear regulations for controlling the use of ganja. The statement also called on the ministry to launch awareness campaigns on the drawbacks from abusing the plants.

During the protest, Chuwit also attacked the Bhumjaithai-controlled Transport Ministry.

He reiterated his allegations that the bidding for the Orange Line project involved a kickback of some 30 billion baht.

Chuwit said he would not submit evidence of alleged corruption to Bhumjaithai’s Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob as challenged by the minister, because he did not trust the minister.

Chuwit said he had submitted the evidence to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

Earlier, Bhumjaithai dropped a hint that it suspected Prayut’s United Thai Nation Party was behind Chuwit’s campaigns to discredit Bhumjaithai ahead of the election.

Speaking at the conference, Chuwit said he would lead his campaign nationwide.

“From now on, I’ll visit provinces nationwide, including Buri Ram, to inform the people of these issues and let the people make their own decision,” Chuwit said. Buri Ram is considered a stronghold of Bhumjaithai.

“If the people agree with the ganja policy, they should vote for Bhumjaithai. If not, they should vote for any other party.”

Chuwit said he had no vested interest in his campaigns because he would not be contesting in the upcoming election.