Thailand’s booming cannabis industry has been thrown into disarray as the government moves swiftly to recriminalize recreational marijuana use. The abrupt policy reversal—announced on June 25—has stunned entrepreneurs, disrupted the market, and raised concerns about the future of what was projected to be a $1.2 billion industry by 2025.
The shift comes in the wake of political turmoil. The Bhumjaithai Party, which spearheaded cannabis legalization in 2022, withdrew from the ruling coalition following Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s controversial handling of a diplomatic spat with Cambodia. Their departure paved the way for more conservative forces in government to move forward with tighter regulations on cannabis use.
Late Tuesday, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health issued a new directive banning the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes and mandating a doctor’s prescription for all cannabis purchases. Health Minister Somsak
Thailand was hailed in 2022 as a pioneer in Asia when it decriminalized cannabis. However, critics say the move lacked a robust regulatory framework. In the vacuum, tens of thousands of dispensaries quickly opened—particularly in tourism-heavy areas like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai—fueling rapid industry growth but also triggering concerns over public health and safety.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub cited rising issues among youth and easy access to cannabis as key factors behind the policy rollback. “The policy must return to its original goal of controlling cannabis for medical use only,” he said.
For those who have invested time, money, and hope into the cannabis sector, the announcement has come as a major blow. “This is my main source of income,” said Punnathat Phutthisawong, a 25-year-old staffer at Green House Thailand, a dispensary in Bangkok. “Many shops are probably just as shocked because a lot of them invested heavily.”
Activists like Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka argue that the cannabis industry, once seen as a transformative force for Thai agriculture, medicine, and tourism, has become a casualty of political instability. “The cannabis industry has become a hostage to politics,” she said.
Despite the looming crackdown, tourists continued to visit shops along Bangkok’s Khao San Road. “There are shops everywhere, so how do they reverse this?” asked Daniel Wolf, a visitor from Australia. “It’s absolutely insane.”
As the legal environment shifts yet again, Thailand’s cannabis future remains highly uncertain. What’s clear is that entrepreneurs and consumers alike are now stuck in legal limbo.
