Thailand is rolling back on its legal cannabis empire

Thailand is rolling back on its legal cannabis empire

When Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, it sparked a major tourism boom – and a domestic industry now worth $1 billion.But now, the government is "harshing that buzz", said Time magazine.Last month, it imposed rules "designed to rein in the country's 'green rush'" and reclassify cannabis as a controlled herb, said CNN. Citizens now need a doctor's prescription to buy the drug, restricting consumption to …

Cannabis in Thailand - The Clocks Turn Back - Business of Cannabis

It once sounded like a miracle: Thailand was shifting from one of the world’s most restrictive cannabis policies to a more rational, modern approach to the traditional plant. First came the limited medical legalisation in December 2018, then a broader opening in June 2022, allowing access for all adults,  albeit under specific regulations. But the law, riddled with loopholes, was quickly tested by a booming industry. Cannabis businesses sprang u…

Thailand’s Weed Rewind: Puff Puff Pause

Thailand’s Cannabis Crackdown: From Green Rush to Government ResetBANGKOK, THAILAND — July 2025 — Just three years after making global headlines for decriminalizing cannabis, Thailand is now dismantling much of the industry it created. In a stunning reversal, the country’s government has enforced a medical-only cannabis policy, shuttered numerous retail dispensaries, and begun steps to reclassify cannabis as a Category 5 narcotic, making non-med…