Cannabis retailers in Thailand express concern over potential future operations due to regulatory uncertainty
Unwinding Thailand's Weed Revolution
Gearing up to clamp down on cannabis, Thailand's populist-led government has decided to reintroduce stricter regulations for the green gold, leaving many in the booming multi-billion-dollar industry in limbo.
In a sudden about-face, the Ministry of Public Health has ordered an immediate halt to the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes. Consequently, retail cannabis purchases will now become preceded by a doctor's prescription mandate.
Slated to take effect once published in the Royal Gazette, these new restrictions could culminate within days. With this shift, cannabis will be reclassified as a narcotic, as announced by the cabinet's health minister, Somsak Thepsuthin.
This move aims to dismantle the unchecked surge in cannabis use and sales, predominantly across tourist locales like Phuket and Pattaya. Here, the proliferation of an estimated 1,500 and 18,000 stores, respectively, has not only sparked a considerable spike in health issues but also prompted nuisances in public spaces, as per Damrongkieat Pinijkarn, secretary of the Pattaya Entertainment Association.
The pot revolution that swept across Thailand since its de-narcotization in 2022 now faces significant challenges, set against the backdrop of political disputes. The Bhumjaithai Party, once a champion of legalization, stepped out of the ruling coalition, leaving the industry vulnerable to such regulatory reversals.
The ensuing prohibition on recreational cannabis is expected to sound the death knell for many stores across the country, predominantly clustered in urban centers. That said, medical cannabis outlets will continue to serve patients under the vigilant oversight of authorized medical practitioners.
Cannabis industry stakeholders find the return to the narcotic list unnecessary and deem it an attempt to control the industry by conventional means. Pongchanok Wisetraksakul, an operations manager of a cannabis store in Phuket, advocates stricter measures for shops that lack appropriate licensing and adherence to standard operating procedures.
Licensed operators are inclined to adapt to these new regulations, yet many others – disheartened by the lack of streamlined relief measures – might be forced to shutter their doors, thereby curtailing the cannabis industry's growth potential.
A Tale of Two Policies
The pendulum has swung from advocacy to prohibition in a bid to restore order and address public concerns over unregulated cannabis access. This volatile policy landscape has left some industry participants aghast, as they grapple with the implications of these unforeseen developments.
Thai cannabis aficionados and tourists partaking in the bustling scene along Bangkok's Khao San Road remain undeterred in the short term, underscoring uncertainty surrounding enforcement and the long-term implications for cannabis in Thailand.
The sudden change in policy has propelled Thailand's cannabis industry into a state of uncertainty, as the government reintroduces stricter regulations and reclassifies cannabis as a narcotic, prompting a potential shutdown of recreational cannabis stores. This move in politics, driven by the government's aim to address public concerns and restore order, is a stark contrast to the general-news of the previous relaxed policies and thriving cannabis scene in places like Bangkok.
