Is cannabis still legal in Thailand?Here's what tourists need to know about the government's U-turn

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On Thursday, May 16, dozens of pro-cannabis supporters gathered at Thailand's Ministry of Health to protest the government's plan to relist the plant as a drug, two years after its decriminalization.

The rally came after Prime Minister Suretta Thavisin said earlier this month that she wanted to reverse legalization by the end of this year.

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis for medical purposes in 2022, but in reality the market appears to be effectively unregulated, leading to public backlash and concerns about abuse and crime.

Neon cannabis signs have become ubiquitous in Bangkok's busy tourist areas, and dispensaries are popping up on every street corner. Hundreds of eateries are advertising cannabis-infused menu items.

This could all change under the Prime Minister's proposals to tightly regulate the use of marijuana and limit its use for medical purposes.

Why are Thailand's cannabis regulations changing so quickly?

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

The conservative coalition government led by the Thailand Contribution Party is behind calls for a crackdown on cannabis. Legalization.

The Thai Contribution Party campaigned for a ban on recreational use. marijuanasaid it poses health risks and could lead to substance abuse problems among young people.

Tabishin reiterated this position in a recent post on X calling for the factory to be relisted, saying, “Drugs are an issue that will destroy the future of the country.”

Anutin Charnvirakul, the former health minister who oversaw drug legalization during the previous military regime, has now been promoted to deputy prime minister.He is the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which is part of the new government. union.

In supporting marijuana legalization in 2022, he said it would reduce overcrowding in Thailand's prisons and boost local economies.

On the day of legalization, more than 3,000 inmates were detained. cannabis The charges were released. The country's weed industry will be worth 28 billion Thai baht (728 million euros) by the end of this year, and is predicted to reach 336 billion baht (8.7 billion euros) by 2030.

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

The Ministry of Health has declared cannabis a “regulated herb'' that requires a license to plant or sell, and has issued regulations banning online sales, sales to pregnant women and people under 20, and public smoking. However, cannabis is easily available for purchase by virtually anyone in many unlicensed facilities and online.

Over 1.1 million people since cannabis was legalized Thai People are registering licenses to grow it, and more than 6,000 weed dispensaries have popped up across the country, many with little quality control.

Thai media was soon filled with reports of drug violence and abuse among young people who had no access to drugs.

The Ministry of Health reported that the number of patients seeking treatment for cannabis-related psychological problems has skyrocketed, from more than 37,000 in 2022 to more than 63,000 in 2023. Other studies have noted that more young people are using cannabis.

Thailand was the first country in Asia to legalize cannabis, which has also led to a booming cannabis tourism industry that many fear will be difficult to put a lid on.

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During the 2023 election campaign, all major political parties, including Bhumjaithai, promised to restrict cannabis to medical uses.

Protesters on Thursday agreed that cannabis should be properly regulated, but that rescheduling it as a drug would have a negative economic impact on those who have invested in the budding industry. He said he would give it.

What are the penalties for cannabis use in Thailand?

Before marijuana was legalized Thailand In June 2022, the country will have some of the toughest drug laws in the world.

Cannabis possession can carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years, and the notorious Bang Kwan Central Prison (ironically nicknamed the Bangkok Hilton after its squalid and overcrowded conditions were depicted in an Australian television series) ) is a major deterrent to marijuana possession. tourist.

In March, Thailand's Health Minister Chongranan Surikeo announced that he had recommended to the cabinet a bill to ban the recreational use of marijuana and reclassify it as a controlled substance. It is expected to be approved soon and will be submitted thereafter. ThailandHouse of Representatives.

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The bill, which was circulated for public comment in January, would impose fines of up to 60,000 Thai Baht (1,560 euros) and up to one year in prison for recreational purposes (defined as “entertainment or entertainment”). It has become. Medical cannabis use will be allowed, but there are no details on how it will be regulated.

It also proposes fines of up to 100,000 baht (2,600 euros) for advertising and marketing. cannabis For recreational use.

Farming without a permit can result in one to three years in prison or a fine of 20,000 to 300,000 baht (520 to 7,780 euros).

The rules regarding cannabis stores and home cultivation are not yet clear.

Can tourists still smoke cannabis in Thailand?

meanwhile Thailand While we await the outcome of the changes, cannabis stores are still open across Bangkok and beyond.

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However, some regulations have already been put in place to restrict the use of cannabis. Smoking or using e-cigarettes in public places is prohibited. If you cause a “public nuisance”, such as by smelling weed, you can be fined 25,000 baht (650 euros).

Details of what constitutes “”bothersome” is ambiguous and can easily be exploited by the police. In Bangkok, police officers are known to blackmail and blackmail tourists caught breaking the law.

Extracts containing more than 0.2 percent THC are still legally classified as narcotics, but some stores are nevertheless selling more potent products, which have been officially licensed for medical purposes. Unless it is, the buyer may run into trouble.

Tourists have been warned that cannabis remains illegal in neighboring countries and should not be brought across borders. SingaporeThe country has one of the strictest drug policies in the world, allowing citizens to be arrested for using drugs abroad as if they were consuming them at home.