Even before it was recreationally legal it was easy to find cannabis on the streets of Thailand. Head to a busy Phuket a couple of years ago, and cannabis pre-rolls were as easy to find as a Thai pancake. Last year when we were in Koh Phangan we went on an ATV tour to an organic farm. They offered hydroponically-grown lettuce and organic honey to us, along with jars of cannabis – all for sale.
But what could have been a boost to local and international tourism (it was the Thais from Bangkok who bought the cannabis in the end on our ATV trip) is falling out of favor with the mainstream Thai public.
About 76% of people who took part in a survey in Thailand said they “totally agreed” or “rather agreed” with their leader’s policy u-turn to re-criminalize the plant, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration.
Related: our family trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand
The poll was conducted via phone between May 14 and 15 among 1,310 Thai nationals aged 18 and above. About 23.4% disagreed with the move, while 0.9% declined to answer or said they had no interest in the issue. Thailand’s latest prime minister Srettha Thavisin, nicknamed Nid, is a Thai businessman and politician currently serving as the prime minister of Thailand since 22 August 2023.
The proposed policy reversal is a blow for Thailand’s nascent cannabis industry after decriminalization was pitched as a way to boost agricultural income and the country’s wellness tourism industry.
Related: high tech shisha helps you smoke 100 cigarettes an hour
Srettha has vowed to restrict the use of marijuana to medical purposes. Canada is one of few countries in the world where medical cannabis legal. Varying stages of legality can be found in the United States but laws vary from state to state. While Israel is a medical cannabis research leader, recreation cannabis is not legal. A Telegram drug dealer recently got 8 years in jail for enabling cannabis buying and selling. Cannabis use, and even detection in your blood from previous use can put you in jail in the United Arab Emirates.
With changing laws in Thailand, tourists should exercise caution when using cannabis there. Thailand can be cruel and strict with tourists who break their laws.
About 75% of respondents in Thailand support the restricted use of cannabis for medical reasons, while 19% said the government shouldn’t implement any policies to support the use of the plant, the latest poll showed.
Cannabis advocacy groups last week rallied to protest Srettha’s order, asking the government to reconsider the plan to protect the interest of a rising industry and a large community of growers. Thailand’s lush tropical climate could be a great place to establish cannabis factories for export.
Almost 8,000 dispensaries and a large number of consumer-agro firms have cropped up across Thailand.
