Cannabis – yes, it's an interesting situation and one, that – as you say, Roger – is pretty much on par for the way the government in Thailand works. But from what I read the country's 180-degree turn on cannabis is both political and economic – economic in the same sense as schemes for encouraging tourists to return or foreigners to invest in the country. The great Thai god – money!
As I recall it was Anutin, who changed the game and created the confusion by de-criminalising the product before enacting the legislation, which even now is mired in confusion, different government ministries consistently say contradictory things – as one might expect here. The average Thai, whether a consumer or producer, really doesn't know what is legal and what is not.
Economic? The medicinal cannabis industry had apparently flourished under Anutin as Health Minister and he expects it to be worth billions of dollars to the Thai economy in the years to come. (Shades of TAT's predictions?) Since decriminalization, he has given away loads of cannabis plants to households and I am sure it is no coincidence that Anutin’s brother is on the board of a company that produces hemp!
Political? Well, Anutin's party Bhumjaithai became the second biggest in the ruling coalition.
I am no user either and have absolutely no vested interest in what the outcome is, but a lot of people do and I think what passes for a Government owes it to them to sort out the mess it has created. But then I suppose we'll be seeing flying 'moo' before that!