In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Thailand’s newly elected Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, unveiled plans to overhaul the country’s cannabis legislation, restricting its use to strictly medical purposes. This proposed shift marks a significant departure from the prior widespread availability of recreational cannabis and is set to bring about a profound transformation in the cannabis industry within Thailand.
Prime Minister Thavisin, who assumed office in August, emphasized the urgency of revising the current laws to curtail adult-use sales effectively. He highlighted the growing concern over the proliferation of drug-related issues in the country as a driving force behind this decision.
“The problem with drugs has been on the rise recently,” he stated during the interview.
Prime Minister Thavisin’s government aims to rectify Thailand’s existing cannabis policies by permitting only medical usage, which he referred to as a “middle ground” solution. Approximately a year ago, Thailand decriminalized cannabis, but it failed to promptly establish comprehensive regulations and enforcement mechanisms to regulate the sale and distribution of cannabis products.
This regulatory vacuum resulted in thousands of cannabis stores opening across the country, prompting a pledge from politicians to address the issue. The new government’s commitment to rewriting the cannabis laws reflects its determination to establish more robust controls and guidelines, ultimately steering the cannabis industry in Thailand towards a focus on medicinal applications.