The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is considering reducing the maximum number of methamphetamine pills that individuals can have in their possession without facing criminal charges from five pills to three, ONCB secretary-general Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon said on Wednesday.
The move came amid a widespread backlash to the five-pill limit set by the Ministry of Public Health, which came into effect on Feb 9.
Under the new rule, individuals arrested while in possession of no more than five methamphetamine pills, or 300 milligrammes of heroin, won't face criminal charges -- instead, they will be considered drug users who need to be rehabilitated.
In the past, even those who possessed relatively small amounts of drugs would be prosecuted and the charges added their criminal record, affecting their future prospects, he said.
Pol Lt Gen Phanurat said the office will consider reducing the limit to three pills in about three months, saying the ONCB needs to see the impact of the five-pill limit before amending the rule.
"If the ONCB finds the number of those arrested as drug users spikes relative to the number of those prosecuted as drug dealers [in three months' time], then the new limit of three pills will be submitted for approval by the ONCB's board," he said.
Separately, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau commissioner, Pol Lt Gen Kirisak Tantinwachai, said that while the new rule paves the way for those who are arrested with no more than five pills to escape criminal charges, individuals who have a known history of selling drugs could still be charged if authorities can prove an intent to sell.
Pol Lt Gen Kirisak agreed with Pol Lt Gen Phanurat's idea, saying the limit should be reduced to three pills if, within the first three months, police arrest more meth users than vendors.
Under the new law, those who are caught with five pills or less immediately will be sent to treatment centres without having to go through court, unless they are found to be drug dealers.
They are required to report after treatment. Failure to do so will result in them being charged and arrested.