Thailand’s Prime Minister Confirms Tough Stance on Recreational Cannabis

Thailand’s Prime Minister and head of the new coalition government, Srettha Thavisin, has formally announced an active policy to combat recreational drug use. While he specifically highlighted the fight against the production and smuggling of methamphetamine as a top priority, he also addressed the future of Thailand’s legal cannabis market, which currently operates in a legal gray area.

The Prime Minister stated that his government will fight the “proliferation” of recreational cannabis in the country. He proposed closing most of the more than 6,000 shops selling medical and industrial cannabis products, and placing the remaining businesses under strict government control.

In an interview with a local newspaper, Prime Minister Thavisin noted that a bill proposing tighter control over the legal cannabis market will be submitted to parliament as early as December. Thanks to the ruling coalition’s influence, the bill is expected to pass quickly and easily. According to him, within about six months, authorities will be able to begin “cleaning up” the market by targeting unscrupulous dealers—specifically, businesses selling cannabis flowers and products containing more than 0.2% THC.

In addition to shutting down most “gray area” businesses, the government also plans to place the remaining industry under strict regulatory oversight. This includes creating regulatory bodies to certify businesses and implementing an electronic tracking system for products to prevent them from entering the black market.

“We want everyone to understand clearly: From now on, economic interests will no longer take precedence over public health. The legal chaos in the cannabis market will come to an end,” said Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew.