The founder of the Khaokwan Foundation has condemned an anti-drug raid on the facility, in which marijuana plants were found and seized in Suphan Buri last week, saying it took place while an amnesty was still in place.
Foundation employee Pornchai Choolert was arrested during the raid by Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) officials on April 3 and charged with illegally cultivating and possessing marijuana.
Foundation president and founder, Daycha Siripatra, who was overseas when the raid took place, was summonsed to answer similar charges.
Anti-narcotics officials said they found around 200 marijuana plants at the foundation as well as 20 litres of cannabis oil, 1.8 kilogrammes of seeds and 500 grammes of what was described as "marijuana powder".
Mr Daycha yesterday issued a statement at Don Mueang airport after returning from a trip to Laos, in response to the raid.
According to him, the amended Narcotics Act, which came into force early this year, allowed practitioners of traditional medicine to seek an amnesty for possessing marijuana for medical purposes.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) subsequently gave a 90-day period to declare marijuana cultivation, with the deadline set for May 19.
"Before I travelled to Laos, I wrote a letter authorising representatives to seek the amnesty on my behalf, but the arrest was made while the 90-day amnesty period was still in force," Mr Daycha said.
He said his representatives submitted an amnesty request yesterday, which was rejected by public health officers, who insisted the foundation must show proof it possessed marijuana.
This proof no longer exists because all the marijuana was confiscated during the raid, he pointed out.
According to Mr Daycha, the public health officers also said he was unable to prove whether he was a practitioner of traditional medicine, which would make him eligible for protection under the law.
He insisted he had received certification from the Thai Holistic Health Foundation, which serves as a coordinator of traditional medicine practitioner networks across the country.
Mr Daycha said he has worked as a traditional medicine practitioner, providing advice on herb use and the cultivation of plants for food and medicine for more than 20 years.
He said he would report to the ONCB today to declare and prove his innocence. After this, he would turn himself in to local police to answer the charges, he said.
He also thanked Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Agriculture Minister Wiwat Salyakamthorn and National Farmer Council chairman Prapat Panyachatraksa for their support with regard to the case.
Deputy FDA secretary-general, Supattra Boonserm, said the arrest had nothing to do with her agency, which only receives amnesty requests.
According to the amended law, those wanting to grow marijuana for medical purposes during the first five years after the legislation comes into force must be state agencies or those working with state organisations, she said.
For those who grow marijuana or want to use its extracts for research, they can seek a permit without the need to do so in conjunction with state organisations, Ms Supattra said. Several organisations have received such a permit, including the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, Rangsit University and Naresuan University.
