Is weed still legal in Thailand? Here’s what tourists need to know as government u-turns

17.05.2024 - 22:47 / euronews.com / Srettha Thavisin / Angela Symons

Dozens of pro-cannabis advocates gathered at Thailand's health ministry on Thursday 16 May to oppose the government’s plan to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalised.

The rally came after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said earlier this month that he would like legalisation to be reversed by the end of this year. 

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022 for medical purposes, but in practice the market appears virtually unregulated, leading to public backlash and concerns over misuse and crime.

Neon weed signs have become ubiquitous in Bangkok’s busy tourist areas, with dispensaries cropping up on every corner. Hundreds of food and drink vendors advertise cannabis-infused menus.

This could all change under the PM's proposals to strictly regulate marijuana use and restrict it for medicinal purposes.

Following the general election in May last year, Thailand has been under new leadership since September.

The conservative coalition government headed by the Pheu Thai Party is behind the calls for a crackdown on cannabis, which has been poorly regulated since its legalisation.

Pheu Thai campaigned on banning the recreational use of marijuana, saying it poses health risks and could cause substance abuse issues among young people.

In a recent post on X calling for the plant to be relisted, Thavisin reiterated this stance, saying "Drugs are a problem that destroys the future of the nation."

Anutin Charnvirakul, the former Health Minister who oversaw the drug’s legalisation in the previous military-run government, has now risen the ranks to Deputy Prime Minister. He is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, part of the new government coalition.

When backing the legalisation of marijuana in 2022, he said it would ease overcrowding in Thailand’s prisons and help boost the rural economy.

On the day of legalisation, more than 3,000 inmates held on cannabis charges were released. Within the year, the country’s weed industry was worth 28 billion Thai baht (€728 million) and by 2030 it was projected to reach 336 billion baht (€8.7 billion).

Anutin had promised that cannabis would be allowed only for medical use, but in practise the market was nearly unregulated.

The Health Ministry issued regulations that made cannabis a 'controlled herb' that requires a license for planting or selling, as well as banning online sales, sales to pregnant women and people under 20, and public smoking. But cannabis can be purchased easily by practically anyone at many unlicensed establishments or online.

Since cannabis was legalised, over 1.1 million Thai people have registered for licences to grow it and more than 6,000 weed dispensaries have popped up across the country, many with