Thailand is poised to recriminalise cannabis, a move set to dismantle a burgeoning industry estimated to be worth more than $800 million. The trade has flourished since the substance was delisted from the country’s narcotics register in 2022.
The push to reintroduce stringent controls on recreational cannabis use follows a recent political shift within the ruling coalition.
The Bhumjaithai Party, a key proponent of cannabis legalisation, withdrew from the government last week. The departure came amidst scrutiny over Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.
In a decisive step late on Tuesday, Thailand’s health ministry issued an order explicitly prohibiting the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes.
Under the new mandate, any retail purchase will now necessitate a doctor’s prescription.
These regulations are expected to come into effect swiftly, once they are officially published in the Royal Gazette, a process that could occur within days.
Three years ago, Thailand became one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise the recreational use of cannabis, but without any comprehensive rules to govern the sector.
Read more at MSN