Thailand wants to end the recreational use of marijuana

He Government of Thailand is finalizing legal reform to address the recreational use of marijuana that emerged under the protection of a legal loophole following the decriminalization of cannabis in June 2022.

He Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew this week they signed a draft law, which is now in the process of public discussion until January 23, which aims to limit the consumption of marijuana to the health sector and fill some gaps created by decriminalization.

Cholnan He stressed to the media that the law, which still needs to be approved by the government cabinet and later ratified by parliament, will “clearly” determine that cannabis must be consumed “exclusively for medical purposes”, stressing that it will apply measures to “control and prevent” its recreational use.

This attempt to regulate an upstart and unregulated industry is an election promise Prime Minister Srettha Thavisinand it comes after the Legislature failed to pass a similar bill in 2023 when it was dissolved to hold an election.

Under this latest proposal, anyone who smokes cannabis recreationally will face a fine of up to $1,700, while the seller will face up to one year in prison or a fine of $2,860, or both.

In addition, advertising campaigns will be banned and licensing for its cultivation will be tightened, among other measures.

Since cannabis has been removed from the list of prohibited narcotics, Thailand The marijuana industry is experiencing rapid growth with thousands of shops opening in Bangkok and across the country.

The minister stated that the open facilities will not be forcibly closed or their licenses will be revoked, but that they will have to comply with the new legal conditions of sale.

The Chamber of Commerce of the University of Thailand, the first nation in Asia to decriminalize cannabis consumption, estimates that the marijuana industry could top $1.24 billion a year in the country by 2025.