If you’ve got a trip booked to Thailand and were looking forward to some time getting acquainted with Mary Jane, we’ve got some bad news.
Medicinal marijuana was legalised back in Thailand in 2018, and in 2022 weed was fully decriminalised. This has since led to a boom in weed tourism, but it looks like the country’s ‘green rush’ is soon to come to an end.
New rules this week will mean customers need a prescription to buy weed, but the government is hoping to have the stuff reclassified as a narcotic, according to CNN.
So, why is this happening? Following the 2022 decriminalisation, the government failed to implement effective plans to regulate the industry, which caused a legal vacuum to open up and a vast rise in recreational use.
Across Thailand, there are now thousands of dispensaries, weed cafes, hemp spas, places offering beauty treatments and even weed festivals, but people are concerned about the social impacts widespread availability of weed can have, such as use among underage people and an increase in addiction.
Cannabis smuggling also sky-rocketed, and between October 2-24 and March 2025, more than 800 smugglers were arrested and nine metric tonnes were seized, according to the UK government.
‘We want to tell tourists they are welcome to enjoy Thailand’s culture and nature — but Thailand should not be seen as a destination for recreational cannabis use,’ said Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.
The new rules mean that licensed cannabis shops can now only sell to customers with prescriptions (such as for chemotherapy-induced nausea, drug-resistant epilepsy or nerve pain). They’re also required to keep detailed sales records and face regular inspections, and those that fail to comply could pay a fine of $620 (but there are plans to drastically increase that amount) or even serve one year in prison.
Growers and farmers will also face strict regulation, and selling weed in vending machines or having it commercially advertised will be banned.
But there are major concerns from businesses about the impact this will have on their livelihood. Thailand has 18,000 licensed cannabis shops, and a report by Thailand’s ministry of commerce projected the trade would be worth $1.2 billion by 2025.
‘It’s a real shame – Thailand was actually one of the first countries in the world to recognize the benefits of cannabis and legalize it. But once it was legalized, state officials failed to follow through,’ said Ake Khattiyadamrong, a cannabis shop owner in Chonburi province. ‘There was no real effort to educate the public. The ministerial regulations that were issued weren’t seriously enforced either.’
He went on to explain that the prescription rule won’t stop people buying weed for recreational use, as people will simply find a way to buy the appropriate documents.
But the Health Ministry insists this decision is for the best. ‘Revenue may dip at first, but considering the social harm caused by unregulated use, the change is necessary … responsible, law-abiding businesses will remain stable and continue operating.’
Interesting time for the industry, eh? Keep an eye on this page for more updates on the story.
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