Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Marijuana Draft Bill Banning Recreational Use Causes Mixed Opinions, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from the last week, Monday, January 8th, to Sunday, January 14th, 2024.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

1. Dr. Cholnan Srikaew, the Thai Minister of Public Health, forwarded a Marijuana Bill for Cabinet consideration, emphasizing its focus on medicinal use only.

Dr. Tewan Thaneerat, the deputy director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTTAM), announced the progress of the Draft Marijuana Bill.

The Thai cannabis industry and pro-cannabis activists are not happy with the bill and as a result it has been entered for public feedback and suggested changes through January 23rd with the Public Health Minister stressing the bill isn’t final yet and still only a draft.

2. A monk has been pronounced dead at the scene while 37 other people have sustained injuries after a truck with a driver traveling the wrong direction collided with a bus in Sakon Nakhon.

This major accident caused significant discussion online around how to make the roads safer in Thailand.

3. Police in Sakon Nakhon’s Phang Khon district recovered two large steel boxes from a pond, each containing a lifeless body.

Police apprehended a 35-year-old man, only identified as Waroot. He reportedly behaved erratically, shouting and speaking incoherently. Waroot has been found to have down syndrome and was a relative of those killed. It’s unclear, however, why he allegedly did so.

4. Prof. Pimol Srivikorn, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and the president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, publicly revealed after the 1st meeting of the Sport Industry Subcommittee regarding an extension visa for foreigners studying Muay Thai to stay in Thailand from 60 to 90 days.

This news is sure to excite Muay Thai students everywhere in Thailand.

5. Satun local media reported an accident on Children’s Day in the Kuan Don Subdistrict in which officials were performing a show using a natural disaster rescue vehicle. A malfunction on a part of the rescue vehicle caused 44 children to suffer mostly minor injuries.

The accident caused the Governor of Satun to ban any large rescue vehicles from being used for demonstrations for children for future Children’s Days.

That’s all for this week, be safe!

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The TPN National News, owned by our parent company TPN media.