Softer drugs law to be sent for royal endorsement

An amendment to the Narcotics Act that would allow lighter sentences for people arrested with small quantities of drugs is due to be sent for royal endorsement.

The amendment would allow suspects a chance to disprove charges brought against them which carry severe punishment, Office of Judiciary secretary-general Athikom Intuputi said yesterday.

It would also ensure the punishment they receive befits the crime they committed.

Mr Athikom said that under the current Narcotics Act, anyone caught possessing more than 15 methamphetamine pills would face charges of possessing drugs with intent to sell.

The law currently does not recognise that the drugs may be for personal consumption, which carries a lesser charge.

The amendment removes the assumption the suspect is selling drugs and allows them to bring in witnesses and evidence to prove they acquired the drug for personal use.

Mr Athikom said the office's legal affairs section is submitting the final amendment for royal endorsement, after it was approved by the National Legislative Assembly on Nov 24.

The amendment introduces a minimum punishment of 10-years imprisonment for those convicted of producing, importing and exporting even a relatively small amount of illicit drugs. The current law offers life imprisonment as the only form of punishment.

Mr Athikom said a broader range of penalties would allow the court to use more discretion when ruling on narcotics-related cases. It comes amid a new push to regard some drug users as patients rather than mere criminals.

The draft amendment law was initially sent to parliament by Supreme Court president Veerapol Tungsuwan. The move followed a controversial plan last year by the Justice Ministry to revise the Narcotics Act, while reclassifying ya ba, or methamphetamine pills, as a less dangerous drug.

He hoped to spur authorities to rethink their approach to drug offences and what constitutes criminality among drug users.