Cholnan made this comment to apparently correct Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who recently told an online news site that his government will be putting cannabis back on the list of narcotics.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was clearly shocked by Srettha's comment and declared on Monday that he had to listen to the entire interview before he could respond. Anutin, in his capacity as public health minister in the previous government, had pushed for removing cannabis from the national list of narcotics.
While campaigning for votes during the 2019 general election, Anutin's Bhumjaithai Party had promised voters that it would ensure that cannabis is decriminalised, so it can be used for medical treatment and as an ingredient for health products, thus serving as a cash crop for the country.
Putting cannabis back on the narcotics list would spark conflicts between coalition leader Pheu Thai and key partner Bhumjaithai.
Read more at nationthailand.com