Thailand’s Shocking Move to Criminalize Marijuana

Thai Prime Minister to review restrictions on marijuana for medical purposes

The Thai government is expected to tighten regulations on recreational use of marijuana.

According to the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy on the 10th, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recently suggested in a media interview a shift toward restricting the use of marijuana for medical purposes only, citing the negative economic impact of marijuana legalization.

Currently, Thailand considers only marijuana products containing more than 0.2% of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as illegal. For non-medical marijuana use, consumption of buds and extracts with high THC content is illegal, and cultivation requires official authorization.

The State Council is reviewing a draft bill to control marijuana, which will later be submitted to parliament.

The bill aims to resolve the problems with current laws, which allow for medical use but do not comprehensively address all uses, and to regulate marijuana use more effectively.

Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin of Thailand emphasized the urgent enactment of the marijuana control law, stating that it could generate significant economic benefits.

Thailand was the first Asian country to remove marijuana from the list of narcotics in 2022, allowing its cultivation and use by the public. The goal is to encourage the supply of medical and health marijuana and stimulate the economy through it.

As a result, as of March last year, the number of marijuana growers in Thailand increased to approximately 1.1 million, and the country’s marijuana market value is expected to reach up to $1.2 billion by 2025.