Power behind The Cannabis

Policy in Thailand
Course assignment (Business and Trade)

Research on power struggle behind the scene

Aaron (Peiji) Guo
Abstract

Global economy system is at the brink of another round of restructuring and

transformation as well as in Thailand during post-pandemic. Not only the changing social
and economic conditions brought about by the coronavirus pandemic are accelerating the
process, helping recover from the diminished growth, but also facing a serious issue for
political struggles led by declined household income for poverty regions and the election for
the first time in more than a decade. One of the major policies has been revised was the
cannabis bill in 2018, and removed cannabis from restricted nocadics list. Furthermore,
institution of food and drink passed a policy for recreational use of cannabis in 2022, just
before the election of Thailand. This study is not going to the detail of cannabis policy itself,
and explaining the impacts to the general public. Rather it is a theory of study on how
hidden political power behind the policy making, clash of the powers and strategies have
been exercised to affect the election.
The study

● History of cannabis policy in Thailand

● The hidden actors/power behind the legislation for this policy agenda
● The shifting of public opinion
● The power struggles domestically and internationally for Thailand
● The Election of Thailand and political parties
● Strategies for manipulation and infrurances
● Why cannabis legalization
● The take aways
The history of Cannabis policy in Thailand
- Part one
Policy development can be segmented by two major time intervals: The Opium wars, and
World on Narcotics.
Behind The Opium War
- China

The world’s largest economy China (possessed 60% of world’s trading silver) became
dominant role of the world’s trading for tea, silk, cottons and china products due to the
increasing demands of the west (mainly British, France and Germany). British and other
western countries suffered greatly in trade deficit because the trade protection of China’s
government. Opium however, greatly welcome by the Chinese in southern regions and
generating huge profit for potentially balance the deficits. Due to its addictions to the
general public and lost in economy power, soon China’s government issued bans to opium
trading and smuggling. British and other country went to war with China and forced it to
signed “unequal treaties” that grands western countries immunity for trading with China.

Reference: The Opium War

Behind The Opium War
- Capitalism vs. Colonialism

The fall of the China’s monarchy in 1911 and rose of the nationalism within the region, the
treaties were no longer existed. Instead, modernization of the nation desperately need
technologies and machinery from the west countries. The flood of industrial goods soon
surplus opium’s profit and greater potentials in the market. At the same time, The clash of
colonial superpower were fighting for more resources and control of prime colonies regions.
The clash of interests soon outbreak into world war I, and not surprisingly, all colonial
superpower fell after the war. It caused The act of banning opium were forced those
countries that profiting from trading previously to give up the business and turn to capitalist
commodity trading. In 1922, Thailand was forced by the agreement to ban opium, cannabis
trading to receive western aid for modernization. (capitalism)
The history of Cannabis policy in Thailand
- Part two
Policy development can be segmented by two major time intervals: The Opium wars, and
Narcotics legislation.
Behind The War on Narcotics
- The US heroin issue

During Vietnam war, US troops were massive deployed in Thailand to battle communist
party of Northern Vietnam. At the sametime during the war in 1970s, increasing use of
heroin amount soldiers and drug trafficking back to the states by veterans became a serious
social problem for the US. Soon after the war, US has announced war on drugs and pushed
through worldwide. Many countries adjusted or accept the same guidelines including
Thailand to restricted trading and banned plantation of narcotic plants, in exchange,
Thailand will be receiving aids from western world for military and open tourism.

Reference: Thailand Marijuana Laws

Behind The War on Narcotics
– Thailand

No doubt, Thailand northern region was one of the most famous heroin trafficking and
plantation center. Although billions of dollars traded through narcotics, but mainly was
aiding the militia groups up the north border. By cutting its business source, it has greatly
provide stability of the northern regions of Thailand from militia and separatists. Not only
receiving the pressure from global inferences, but also from within the states, the capitalists
and elite class had put more legislated pressure on the government to ban plantations of
narcotics. 1975-1979, more restrict laws and wider range of drugs were put on list of
restricted with punishments, cannabis (marijuana) was also considered as serious offense of
narcotic laws.
The power behind the scene to the theory
– key actors

● Western world clashes between capitalism and colonialism

● Capitalists and traditional farmers
● Globalization inferences
● US war on drugs (vietnam war)
● Elite class and capitalists within the regime
● Culture
 The shift of public opinion on cannabis
– Globally
Although, reasoning for shifting opinion
on cannabis was unclear and many
studies couldn't identifying factors for
public opinion shifting, it is known that
public awareness for cannabis from
extremely dangerous to minior disturbs.
Amsterdam is known the heaven for
cannabis use and it brought huge profit
for the region for not only medical usage,
but recreational for travelers. Germany,
USA, most of the European countries
open up for wider range medical uses of
cannabis products, and 2018, 18 states
of US has legalized further uses for
recreational.
 The shift of public opinion on cannabis
– Thailand

It is clear that western media, globalization, traveling, western inferences has brought
changes of public opinions on cannabis in Thailand. The general public became higher
tolerance for cannabis use secretly, and government within was shaking by the elite class
and capitalist investors. In 2018, US took a bold move to legalize cannabis products can be
recreational uses. The final obstacles from conservative force of the government has been
removed, it has become a viable choice for government to favor the general public especially
the younger generation, northern farmers communities and shaping the intense tensions to
its military government.

Reference: The shifting of public opinion

 The power struggles domestically and
internationally
Domestically power struggles:

The result of military coup in 2006, and 2014, Royal Monarchy and conservatives were
forced to face a divided society, as policies were strengthened in protection for the supreme
power of monarchy. The young generations and northern states raged series of protest for
anti-deliberation of the government. The social conflict between deliberation, freedom and
censorship created instability for Thailand’s economy environment and resulted in slow
economy growth.

Reference: The shifting of public opinion

 The power struggles domestically and
internationally
International power struggles:

Although, military coup for elected government is against the value of western world’s
democratic approach, but strangely, no harm sanctions were placed from UN. Instead, some
western media stated the coup was a “good coup” for battling the corruptions, Thai-style
democracy and was welcomed by elites of Thailand. Why western countries
double-standard the coup? The first priority of US led countries is to stop China’s influences
in SEA, and military government soon returned favours. Aside from the military aids from
those countries, a high speed railway project was also rid of China from the list, which was
supported by Thaksin and Yingluck. Without any questions, Japan and other countries won
the project to build the infrastructures of those railroads, suppose to connect all major cities
of Thailand.

Reference: Thailand's Air force Reference: Thailand's highspeed railroad project

The Election of Thailand and political parties

The military regime government vs. Elected government

● Pham Phuea Thai（founded by Thaksin) strong supporters are bangkok region and
central regions, north, and north-east regions. Majority are mid-class elites and
farmers.
● Palang Pracharath Party (military supported): strong supporters are regions of
conservatives, loyal monarchy, scholars and poverty.
● Phak Kao Klai (move forward): strong supporters from metropolitans of bangkok,
central and north west regions, majority are young generations
 Strategies for manipulation and infrurances

How to win?

There are two strategies were available in front of military government and its supporters.

● One, directly head to head with the majority of public, control the media, royal family
resources, rally the elite class and western country supports.

Pros: It has done before, and allowed military controlled parties to win in 2019, and royal
family still controls the majority of the political and economical resources.

Cons: Opposing voices not only limited with young generation, but also within the scholars,
elite groups for lack of improvement for economics. Also, the most important factor, not the
least, the new King Maha was unfavored by traditional supporters from his father. Another
disadvantage is modern social media is not easy to control.

Reference: The shifting of public opinion

 Strategies for manipulation and infrurances

● Second option, use its administrative power slowly overturns opponents advantage,
corner them to either for more extreme approach on policy agendas, or ally with
current government regime and continue protects the interests of conservatives and
monarchy system.

Pros: It gains more support from the general public, and wins mid-class, elites,
conservatives back and to form a strong ally that protects the core value or interests amount
them.

Cons: An election deadlock if no strong ally is onboard with the proposal (but they still
control over 250 votes from upper seats), it will be an endless chaos for election.

Reference: The shifting of public opinion

Why cannabis legalization
Domestically

● Wins conservative farmers support

● Hope to defibrillate tourism slammed by the pandemic
● Business opportunities for the most farm states
● A strong statement to young generation for progressing policy agenda
● Weaken or shaking strong supporter from opponents

Internationally

● Open business for western entrepreneurs and investors

● Liberal and progressive image
● Draw attention away from “military” label to specific policy
The take aways

What is really behind the policy making? Where is the actors behind the scenes?

● It is crucial to understand how important policy making affects the power

● Such policy is not a black and white decision nor by the public opinion or municipals
● Clash of the classes
● Importances of controlling resources in political power and private actors
● How to use domestic and international power as influences and manipulating public
opinions
Thank you

Q&A