Thailand nips 420 cannabis tourism in the bud

After making global headlines as the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis in June 2022, Thailand has reversed its decision with moves to ban recreational marijuana use and allow it for medical purposes only.

Just 18 months after the historic decriminalisation decision, the new Thailand government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisi is making good on its promise to “rectify” its cannabis policy and limit use to medical purposes only.

Thailand’s health ministry released a draft bill on 16 January that outlined fines of up to 60,000 Thai baht (approximately AUD$2,500) or prison sentences of up to one year for recreational use – or both. It also asked for public feedback on the draft bill amid the country’s booming cannabis industry.

Cannabis and cannabis-related products will be limited to medical and health purposes only and the proposed new laws will also impose fines for advertising and marketing recreational cannabis use.

Medical marijuana…