Changes to Cannabis Laws in Thailand
Thailand's cannabis industry has an estimated turnover of $1 billion
New rules for access to cannabis in Thailand may soon come into effect. Thai Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin intends to issue new regulations in the coming weeks that restrict recreational cannabis use. Consumers will be required to provide a medical certificate certifying that cannabis is used exclusively for medicinal purposes.
Cannabis has been legal in Thailand since 2022. The announcement is the latest twist in a long and complex process of regulating cannabis use since its legalization. The latest proposal is that licensed medical professionals, including traditional Thai doctors and general practitioners, will issue prescriptions. Medical certificates may be required to establish that users suffer from health conditions such as epilepsy, pain, migraines, or insomnia.
"I will improve the regulations for cannabis consumption in Thailand. Foreign and Thai cannabis users will be required to provide medical certificates," Somsak said at a press conference in Bangkok last week, as reported by Yahoo News. "We will instruct government organisations to continue enforcing the law and not allow any problems to develop," he told reporters.
What do Cannabis advocates think of the changes?
Cannabis activists in Thailand believe the new legislation could lead to a significant decline in licensed cannabis shops , but that large vendors will remain in the market. "I understand what the government is doing, but I don't agree with it," said cannabis activist Chokwan 'Kitty' Chopaka. "I have a feeling the larger shops will remain, the ones who have the war chest and will serve tourists, and the locals will probably grow their own because it will be too difficult to get a medical certificate," she said.
Thailand's cannabis industry is estimated to have a turnover of around $1 billion. This isn't the first time the kingdom's authorities have announced restrictive measures, but so far they've never taken any concrete steps. According to Prasitchai Nunual, Secretary General of the Thai Cannabis Future Network, that would be pointless. "Cannabis isn't popular among young people. The number of smokers hasn't increased at all, which has led to many shops closing," he said, according to Reuters.
Controls at Thai airports have been tightened to combat the growing cannabis trade. According to local authorities, British and Indian citizens are primarily involved in the trade. In an operation led by Thai and British police last February, over two tons of cannabis were seized from airline passengers.
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