The Southeast Asian country, known for being more liberal-minded than its neighbours, has decided to backtrack on its cannabis regulation policy. Three years after decriminalising its consumption, the country has decided to reinstate restrictions, putting an end to a brief period in which it had become a regional benchmark for its openness towards marijuana.
Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin this week signed an order banning the sale of cannabis without a prescription, and has anticipated that the plant will once again be considered illegal. “Marijuana will soon be classified as a narcotic drug,” said Thepsuthin, in statements reported by local media.
The new guidelines force businesses that sell cannabis to convert to medical dispensaries, under a much more restrictive framework. The Department of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, responsible for applying the regulations, has already begun to communicate the new requirements to establishments.
Tougher business and consumer restrictions
The decision marks a major shift in Thai policy. In 2018, Thailand legalised the medicinal use of cannabis and in 2022 made the move towards recreational use, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise it in a region characterised by harsh anti-drug laws. This led to nearly 18,000 cannabis-related businesses, including high-end dispensaries and tourism activities around cultivation.
Social debate, political tensions and business posturing
However, decriminalisation generated intense debate in the country, with sectors criticising the lack of regulation and easy access to marijuana, even by minors. The government has justified the change of position by citing concerns about the increase in cases of dependency and the risk of consumption among young people. “Many shops were opened to sell cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes, making it easily accessible to minors and the general public, which contradicts the government’s intention to combat the drug problem,” explained Jirayu Houngsab, a spokesman for the government, according to AP.
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The shift in cannabis regulation has accelerated following the 18 June departure of a pro-cannabis party from the coalition government, which has given the ruling Pheu Thai Party more room for manoeuvre to tighten its policy, albeit with less parliamentary backing.
Meanwhile, cannabis advocacy organisations, such as Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network, have announced protests in front of the Ministry of Public Health on 7 July to show their rejection of the new ban.
With this measure, Thailand becomes one of the few countries in the world that, after having legalised cannabis, reverses its decision to criminalise it again.
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