As Thailand Does U-Turn on Legal Cannabis, Businesses Scramble to Survive

As Thailand does U-turn on legal cannabis, businesses scramble to survive

Government says decriminalisation fueled social ills, but producers argue new rules will only push industry underground.

Thailand Reverses Cannabis Decriminalization: Prescription‑Only Access Returns Amid Tourism Concerns - Merry Jane

Thailand has abruptly reversed its 2022 cannabis reform, once celebrated across Southeast Asia—reinstating strict controls and prescription-only access to curb unregulated use and youth exposure.Backtracking after bold reformIn 2022, Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis and open recreational access, with over 18,000 shops emerging nationwide. Now, a June 2025 order reclassifies cannabis buds as narcotics once again, …

Cannabis policy flip-flop crushes Pattaya businesses: ‘Three years of hope destroyed by one signature’

Once a booming industry in Pattaya, cannabis businesses now face ruin as the government reverses course on policy and threatens reclassification as a narcotic. PATTAYA, Thailand – Thailand’s abrupt reversal on cannabis regulation is wreaking havoc on small businesses in Pattaya and beyond, leaving many entrepreneurs devastated and disillusioned. After riding a wave of optimism for three years following cannabis decriminalization, operators now f…

Phuket Cannabis Shops Raided in Major Regulatory Crackdown

Picture courtesy of The Phuket News In a decisive move, officials in Phuket's Cherng Talay area have shuttered seven cannabis shops after a series of raids exposed widespread regulatory violations. Authorities from the Thalang District Office, in partnership with the Phuket Public Health Office and local police, carried out the operation yesterday, July 2, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, targeting eight businesses in total. Only one outlet was fo…