Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022 for medical purposes, but in practice the market appears virtually unregulated.
The details of what constitutes illegal use or a ‘nuisance’ are murky and liable to exploitation by police. Officers have been known to blackmail and extort tourists caught on the wrong side of the law.
Tourists have also been warned that cannabis is still illegal in neighbouring countries and must not be transported across borders. Singapore, which has some of the world’s strictest drug policies, can arrest citizens for using drugs outside of the country as if they were consumed at home.
The unregulated use has led to a public backlash, with concerns over misuse and crime, and pressure on the Thai Government. Thailand’s Health Minister has recommended a draft bill to the Cabinet banning the recreational use of marijuana and reclassifying it as a controlled substance.
Neon weed signs have become ubiquitous in Thailand’s 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. Before weed was legalised in Thailand in June 2022, the country had some of the world’s harshest drug laws.
Possession of cannabis could land you in prison for up to 15 years, with the infamous Bang Kwang Central Prison – ironically nicknamed the Bangkok Hilton.
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.
When backing the legalisation of marijuana in 2022, the government argued that 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 (AUD$1.2 billion) and by 2030 it was projected to reach 336 billion baht (AUD$14 billion).
Based on these financial stats alone, I would suggest that putting the ‘Weed Genie’ back in the bottle in Thailand may not be easy.
The Keeler's 