BANGKOK – Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Somsak Thepsutin, has signed a new order that makes a doctor’s prescription and medical certificate mandatory for anyone buying cannabis. This step will confine legal cannabis use to medical needs only.

The rule comes as the government responds to the spread of recreational cannabis use, following Thailand’s 2022 move to decriminalise the drug. After three years of rapid industry growth and loose regulation, this policy marks a sharp turn in how the country handles cannabis.

Somlerk Jeungsmarn, head of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, said on Monday that there will be a grace period before the new requirement starts. “We want everyone to have time to adjust,” he explained, though the government has not yet set an exact date for the changes.

This temporary window should help cannabis business owners and users get ready for stricter rules. For many, the announcement brings both relief and a warning that much tougher oversight is on the way.

Thailand’s Bold Move with Cannabis

Thailand first made headlines in 2018 when it became the first country in Asia to allow medical cannabis. The move gained momentum under Anutin Charnvirakul, then Public Health Minister with the Bhumjaithai Party, who promoted cannabis as a way to support farmers and attract tourists. By June 2022, cannabis was removed from the Category 5 narcotics list, making possession, growing, and adult use legal, except for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

The 2021 Narcotics Code allowed the Public Health Minister to set rules for cannabis and kratom, once they were removed from the narcotics list. But the law required the government to put regulations in place within 120 days, which never happened.

This gap created a legal grey area, letting the recreational market grow with little oversight. Cannabis shops, both licensed and unlicensed, popped up in cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. By 2025, over 11,200 shops had official licences.

The cannabis business exploded, reaching a projected value of $1.2 billion per year by 2025. Tourists crowded areas like Khao San Road, buying cannabis products that were often stronger than the legal limits allowed. The government handed out a million free cannabis plants in 2022 to encourage farming, and promoted home growing through the “Plookganja” app.

But the boom raised concerns. Reports of cannabis-related mental health issues grew quickly, with cases rising from 37,000 in 2022 to more than 63,000 in 2023. Studies found that more young people were using cannabis, worrying health experts and parents. Thai media shared stories of violence linked to cannabis, and some countries advised their citizens to avoid using the drug during visits to Thailand.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who took office in September 2024, has stressed that cannabis should be for medical use, though she recognises its economic value. Her Pheu Thai Party, which opposed recreational use, faced resistance from their coalition partner Bhumjaithai, who prefer a middle-ground approach. The new prescription rule is seen as a compromise, allowing medical use while limiting access for recreation.

Tourists and Cannabis Shops Face New Limits

For foreign visitors, the prescription rule marks the end of Thailand’s reputation as an easy cannabis destination. “We don’t want Thailand to be known only for cannabis tourism,” Dr. Somlerk said, stressing the aim of changing the country’s image.

Tourists will need to see a licensed medical professional, including traditional Thai medicine doctors, to get prescriptions for conditions like chronic pain, insomnia, or seizures. Anyone caught using cannabis for fun could face a fine of up to 60,000 baht (about $1,700), and public use remains banned under the 1992 Public Health Act.

Cannabis shops, especially the roughly 10,700 that are licensed, now face an uncertain market. The new rules mean only those with proper permits under the Thai Traditional Medicine Act can sell cannabis, and shops must keep careful records of every sale.

Unlicensed sellers, especially those in tourist hotspots, could be forced out of business, while legal stores may have to focus on patients instead of casual users. Prasitchai Nunual from the Cannabis Future Network said, “Many shops are already having a tough time because there’s too much supply,” noting that some have already closed as demand for recreational products falls.

Upcoming Changes in Cannabis Law

Minister Somsak said that cannabis will soon be classified again as a narcotic, which he believes will fix lingering issues from past policies, such as its current status as a controlled herb under the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Protection Act.

This change will also mean new rules for licensing and renewals, increasing government control. Somsak rejected claims that these moves are driven by politics, and said that the Bhumjaithai party’s Cannabis Control Bill will likely not pass while this government is in charge.

Thailand now faces the challenge of keeping the benefits of its cannabis industry while addressing concerns about health and abuse. The new prescription rule and the plan to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic show a clear move away from the free-market approach of 2022, but the grace period lets businesses and users prepare for what’s next.

As the country steps back from open recreational use, tourists, shop owners, and officials are all waiting to see how these changes will shape Thailand’s future with cannabis.

Related News:

Police raid a Khon Kaen weed shop-turned-teen drug den ignites national uproar, exposing why Thailand will recriminalize cannabis. New laws ban high-THC weed by Nov 11, 2025, as dispensaries shutter and chaos grips a once-booming, now doomed industry.

A police raid in Khon Kaen on Wednesday reveals everything a sceptic needs to know about why the Thai government is recriminalizing cannabis. The raid hit what can only be described as a den of iniquity. It came the same week that Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin—long a fierce opponent of legal weed—blind-sided his rivals with new rules. Only cannabis with THC below 0.2%, sourced through government channels and available by prescription, will stay legal. All other forms will become illegal again, facing strict police enforcement once reclassified as a Category 5 narcotic. By Thursday, weed shops were already closing nationwide as the news finally sank in. The pot free-for-all is over. At least it will be by November 11 2025 when the new regime will be in force.

The Khon Kaen dispensary looked more like a drug den than a weed shop. Inside, teenagers slouched in plastic chairs, puffing joints and sipping thick green kratom cocktails. The air reeked of smoke, stale sweat and cough syrup. Meanwhile, a rice cooker in the corner boiled kratom leaves. Bottles of syrup sat next to it. One boy, no older than 16, could barely hold his head up. He’d taken meth, drunk kratom and smoked cannabis.

Just metres away, a mattress stained with ash and damp spots held meth-smoking equipment: a glass pipe, burnt foil and plastic straws. Cough syrup bottles were scattered around. Weed jars lay open on the counter.

Raid on unlicensed Khon Kaen dispensary uncovers youth drug use and illegal cannabis sales

Labels read “White Widow,” “Zkittlez,” and “Purple Kush.” However, none displayed THC levels, as legally required. Most were high-potency strains.

This wasn’t a one-off. In fact, it had become a regular hangout for youth. However, this time, authorities finally intervened.

On June 25, at around 6:30 p.m., a joint force raided the premises. Officers from the Khon Kaen Provincial Police, city police, local Public Health office, and district administration entered the so-called dispensary, located in Sila Subdistrict.

The shop was unlicensed and had been warned before. In fact, this was the fifth inspection. Still, no real owner had been charged. Each time, a new employee appeared and claimed ignorance. Consequently, the shop reopened days later.

But this time was different.

A 16-year-old girl stood behind the counter. She gave her name only as “Ms. A.” and told police she’d worked there for two weeks and was paid ฿300 per day. However, she had no contract. The teenager didn’t know the owner’s real name—just that he was called “Mr. Name.” She had no phone number for him.

When asked about the teenagers present, she shrugged. “They just come here,” she said. But clearly, they were more than casual customers. At least one teen had used meth on site. Moreover, another had passed out from mixing cannabis with kratom and cough syrup.

Police found numerous violations including meth equipment and minors present inside the dispensary

The evidence told its own story. Police found 33 jars of cannabis buds. No THC levels were displayed. Under Thai law, levels over 0.2% THC are not permitted without medical approval. Yet nothing about the shop suggested medical use. There was no prescription process. Furthermore, no doctor was affiliated.

On a tray next to the counter, police found meth-smoking paraphernalia. A small mirror, cut straws, and scorched foil lay in plain sight. More kratom leaf residue was found near the sink. Next to it, two half-empty syrup bottles dripped onto the floor.

Because minors were involved, officers contacted the Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office. The teens were separated and interviewed. Some were high. One had dilated pupils and slurred speech.

Ms. A was referred to the Provincial Labor Office for protection. Employing minors in such conditions violates multiple labour and child protection laws. Moreover, she may also be a trafficking victim.

Officers confirmed the shop had zero legal authorization. There was no cannabis business license. No medical certification, no storage compliance, and no traceability system. Therefore, the entire operation violated national guidelines.

Shocked police officers seize all cannabis stock and plan further charges against owners and operators

All cannabis stock was seized. Photos were taken. Samples were packed for lab testing. If THC content exceeds legal limits, additional charges will follow.

Authorities will also charge the real owner once identified. Police are tracking leads using witness testimony and forensics. Fingerprints on the meth equipment are being examined. Meanwhile, surveillance footage from nearby businesses is being reviewed.

The raid came just two days after Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin issued a strict order. On June 23, he declared cannabis would be limited to medical use only. Recreational use would no longer be tolerated.

Somsak’s directive is blunt: existing cannabis shops must comply with medical-use rules or shut down by November 11, 2025. Until then, they must operate under temporary guidelines. These include no sales to minors, no advertising and proper labelling. However, many shops ignore them.

That’s why this case matters. It shows what happens when enforcement fails to align with policy.

Cannabis reclassification plans mean it will be treated as an illegal narcotic alongside meth and heroin

Moreover, Somsak’s ministry is pushing for full reclassification. Cannabis will return to the list of Schedule 5 narcotics. That means it’ll be treated like meth, heroin and opium. If the Office of the Narcotics Control Board approves, this will become law within three months of a published regulation in the Royal Gazette.

The timing would fit well with the mid-November dispensations for medical cannabis sale.

Police say they welcome the clarity. For the past two years, grey zones let rogue operators flourish. Dispensaries sold high-THC weed under the guise of “wellness.” Some let customers smoke on site. Others—like this Khon Kaen case—became teen drug hubs.

Somsak’s shift cuts through the chaos. His order limits legal cannabis use to 15 conditions. These include chronic pain, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and insomnia. Prescriptions must come from licensed doctors in seven approved fields. Patients must recheck monthly.

Doctors face penalties for improper prescriptions. These range from license suspension to full revocation. Moreover, clinics must track each patient. Doses must follow medical necessity, not customer demand.

Widespread dispensary laxity reveals urgent need for reform as minors exposed to dangerous drug use

That’s a drastic change from today’s environment. Presently, over 18,000 cannabis shops operate with minimal oversight. Most claim to offer “health” benefits. Yet, few require any documentation. Furthermore, fewer still follow proper record-keeping.

Shops like the one in Sila Subdistrict demonstrate why reform is urgent. In fact, the scene wasn’t just chaotic—it was dangerous. Kratom tea simmered openly. Moreover, cough syrup was sold in bulk. Minors handled high-THC products. Meth tools were within reach of anyone.

Despite this, the shop had survived four previous inspections. However, each time, it dodged penalties by cycling through fake owners. Paperwork trails led nowhere. There were fake names and disconnected numbers. Additionally, no business registration was found.

But this time, witnesses talked. Specifically, teens named the regulars. They described who brought meth, who shared kratom and who locked the back room. Police believe the man known as “Mr. Name” is tied to other unlicensed shops. Consequently, a broader network may exist.

For now, the shop is shut. Police sealed the entrance. Inside, shelves sit empty. The mattress is gone. Also, the rice cooker was seized. All jars were logged as evidence.

Social workers aid affected teens as authorities prepare for more raids and stricter enforcement

Social workers are supporting the affected teens. Some will enter rehab. Others may return to school. Authorities are determining whether any were trafficked. Follow-up interviews are scheduled.

Officials say this case sets a precedent. It shows they are no longer tolerating fake dispensaries. It also demonstrates that Somsak’s policy isn’t just paper—it’s being enforced.

The Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Interior and Royal Thai Police now coordinate more closely. Task forces are forming. More raids are expected.

Meanwhile, many dispensaries are worried. Some are applying for medical-use certification. Others are quietly winding down operations. A few are still betting on loopholes. But the clock is ticking.

In Khon Kaen, the message is clear: this isn’t the same game anymore. Weed shops that ignore the new rules will face shutdown—and possibly jail. This isn’t about health anymore. It’s about accountability.

Back at the busted shop, investigators are still sorting evidence. Lab results are due soon. If the THC exceeds 0.2%, trafficking charges may apply. Meth traces may lead to narcotics conspiracy charges.

Police vow to identify all involved as Thailand’s cannabis landscape undergoes rapid transformation

Police say the case won’t fade. They intend to find and prosecute everyone involved. “Mr. Name” won’t remain nameless for long. Neither will those who helped him hide.

Because from now on, Thailand’s cannabis story is taking a very different turn.

Thailand’s cannabis industry, certainly was once booming. It is now reeling from a sharp and sudden policy reversal. On June 23, a decisive ministerial order was signed by Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsutin. It comes into force on November 11th 2025.

It will instantly transform how cannabis can be sold and consumed. No longer will anyone walk into a dispensary and casually buy weed. Now, a doctor’s prescription will be required for every gram.

These changes come just three years after Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis. Since then, between 10,000 and 18,000 dispensaries have opened. Now, all are scrambling to adapt. The public, too, is confused. Tourists are baffled. Entrepreneurs are furious. Activists are warning of a return to black-market sales.

Sudden rollout of new cannabis rules leaves vendors shocked, fearing political motives and collapse

Many vendors say the government blindsided them. The rules were published late Wednesday night, and are taking effect in November. There was no draft, nor warnings. Doors were already shut across the country on Thursday morning.

Some dispensary owners accuse the government of political vengeance. One vendor in Khaosan said these moves are aimed at hurting political opponents. However, he stressed that it’s the public who will suffer. Farmers without special government certification can’t sell their crops. Dispensaries without doctors on staff will shut down. Meanwhile, non-compliant products will be forced underground.

Although framed as a public health measure, the sudden timing raises questions. Only days before the announcement, the Bhumjaithai Party left the coalition. That party had championed cannabis legalisation. After a dispute over a cabinet seat, they joined the opposition.

The new rules are tight. Dispensaries must, from now on, stock only cannabis from “Good Agricultural and Collection Practices” (GACP)-certified farms. Sales are capped at a 30-day supply per patient. A doctor must assess and prescribe usage based on specific conditions. There are 15 accepted symptoms, including chronic pain, insomnia, epilepsy and depression.

New rules make doctors legally liable for cannabis prescriptions and limit what conditions qualify

Doctors must detail how much cannabis the patient can use per day. They can only prescribe for 30 days at a time. They are also legally responsible for side effects or misuse. If a doctor makes an improper recommendation, they face penalties under their professional laws.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, prescriptions can be issued by a variety of medical professionals. This includes doctors trained in Western medicine, Thai traditional medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and even Chinese medicine. Folk doctors, if certified, are included too.

These requirements are part of the government’s broader plan. Public Health Minister Somsak says cannabis will soon be reclassified as an illegal narcotic again. Although it is currently labelled a “controlled herb,” the shift would make recreational use explicitly illegal.

To recriminalise the drug, a meeting of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is already scheduled. After that, the minister signs the order. When it is published in the Royal Gazette, it comes into effect within three months.

This will subsequently allow police enforcement. The drug will in effect be illegal without a certified prescription. Certain high-power THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) flower buds will afterwards be illegal and possession may send users to jail.

Mandatory in-house doctors and rising compliance costs may shut small dispensaries across Thailand

Over the next few weeks, more regulations are expected. Every dispensary will be required to have a doctor on-site. This requirement could put smaller shops out of business. Hiring full-time doctors is expensive. Many dispensaries simply cannot afford it.

Dr. Tewan Thanirat from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine explained the reasoning. The Ministry issued Form Por.Tor.33 to regulate medical use. It will be required for every cannabis prescription. It includes patient data, the prescribing doctor’s license and dosage details.

The crackdown comes amid growing social concerns. Multiple agencies have published alarming figures. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported over 1.5 million cannabis users in Thailand by 2024, second only to methamphetamine. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board said cannabis addiction cases doubled from 2019 to 2024.

Meanwhile, the Center for Drug Problem Studies at Chulalongkorn University found a tenfold increase in cannabis use among youth since legalisation. Hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health reported a 6 to 7 times jump in cannabis poisoning cases. The spike in teen usage, many say, was a wake-up call.

Officials claim policy shift protects public health amid growing social concern and public support

Officials insist that the rollback is not political. Moreover, Somsak and his team claim the motivation is public health. Unfortunately, inconvenience to business owners is collateral damage. As Mr. Wanchat Vanichphan, an advisor to the Minister of Public Health, put it, “When the law has been in effect for some time, and problems arise, someone must step up.”

Wanchat pointed to the results of a recent public hearing. Between May 22 and June 15, more than 59% of respondents reportedly supported stricter regulation. Many were especially concerned about the previous lack of sales restrictions. In fact, anyone over 20 could buy cannabis, even without a real medical need.

Because of that loophole, weed was being smoked everywhere. Tourists and locals lit up in parks, hostels, beaches and restaurants. Complaints piled up. Parents were concerned. Authorities worried about the long-term societal effects. Public opinion slowly began to shift.

Somsak’s changes aim to fix what he calls “lax” enforcement. Now, no one can buy cannabis without a prescription. This includes tourists, even if they have a medical condition. They must consult a Thai-certified doctor. Children, students, pregnant women and breastfeeding women are strictly prohibited from use.

Critics warn medical-only model risks corruption, legal suits, and the collapse of legal weed industry

Critics say the law swings too far in the other direction. “A medical certificate can absolutely be bought,” said Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future. “It will lead to fake prescriptions and corruption.”

This group has called for a mass protest at the Ministry of Public Health on July 7. Activists argue that forcing all use into a medical framework creates new risks. Instead of reducing use, it may drive it underground. Dispensaries may offer off-the-books sales. Tourists may turn to street dealers. Poor farmers may resort to black markets.

Others are considering legal action. Several business owners are weighing a class-action lawsuit. They aim to delay the rules or challenge them entirely. Their case is simple: the sudden implementation destroyed livelihoods without due process.

Economic fallout could be severe. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) valued the cannabis sector at ฿28 billion baht (US$865 million) in 2022. They projected growth to ฿43 billion in 2025. That forecast now looks overly optimistic.

Low certification rates and legal exposure put strain on cannabis farmers, doctors and clinics alike

According to Rattapon Sanrak, owner of Highland Cafe in Bangkok, compliance is just too expensive. Dispensaries were already facing stiff competition and fewer tourists. “This will force more businesses to close. The products won’t vanish. They’ll go underground.”

He isn’t alone. Furthermore, industry groups estimate that only a small fraction of Thailand’s cannabis farms meet the GACP certification standard. Without it, their entire harvest becomes unsellable. Worse, they can’t even export due to international restrictions.

Meanwhile, doctors are being asked to prescribe cannabis under unclear conditions. While 15 symptoms are listed in the new rules, doctors have discretion to treat other conditions. Yet they are also held liable. That legal risk has made many reluctant to prescribe at all.

To address this, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine will offer online training to doctors. But it may not be enough. Many in the medical field remain sceptical of cannabis. Others simply don’t want the legal exposure.

Reversal of cannabis liberalisation shocks industry and leaves future of Thailand’s weed uncertain

Pro-cannabis groups argue that education and regulation are better than prohibition. Thailand’s approach, they say, should mirror models like Canada or certain U.S. states. There, legal recreational use exists alongside strict product testing, age limits and licensed sellers.

But for now, Thailand is heading the other way. The short honeymoon of cannabis liberalisation appears over. What started as a bold regional experiment is now being clipped by political infighting, health concerns and social backlash.

Still, the future remains uncertain. Moreover, whether these new rules will truly reduce youth use or just drive it into the shadows is unclear. What is clear, however, is that the cannabis industry has been thrown into confusion. Consequently, thousands of entrepreneurs, farmers and patients now wait to see what comes next.

As more rules roll out in the coming weeks, and court challenges mount, the debate will grow sharper. For now, only one thing is certain: in Thailand, weed will no longer be a free-for-all after November 11, 2025. Nevertheless, there is one proviso—that the government stays in power until then and the minister is not replaced by someone more amenable to the pot sellers and tokers.

Further reading:

Cannabis or marijuana again going underground on November 11 2025 after minister’s order on Monday

Bhumjaithai Party lays down the gauntlet on weed. Calls for passage of its original 2022 control law

Cannabis ghost back to life after finishing quest to Chiang Mai. Piya reclaimed his life from the drug

Another UK tourist couple arrested with a £1 million haul of cannabis after their holiday in Thailand. Pot crackdown plan

Cannabis regulatory regime expected in June ending pot free for all with medical certification needed to buy the drug

Health Minister Somsak launches regulatory blitz to outlaw non-medical cannabis use within 40 days

UK girl’s dream holiday in Thailand turns into life in a Georgian prison. Because of cannabis smuggling

British cannabis Kingpin arrested at a luxury pad in Bangkok as Ko Samui police smash easy money racket

Massive Pot smuggling racket. Foreign tourists previously paid and sent to Thailand on holidays. Security threat

Outbound cannabis smuggling smashed by Chiang Mai police. Europe and London presently targeted

Buriram cannabis factory raided for illegal Vietnamese staff as drugs czar declares a new regime

UK ambassador meets top Thai officials to further plans to rein in cannabis as smuggling surges

UK holiday maker to Thailand lands in Heathrow Airport London with £1 million worth of cannabis



You have to know where to find it. Unlike the garish weed dispensaries, buckets of booze or fried scorpions that line Bangkok’s notorious party street, kratom sellers are tucked away down inconspicuous alleys. It was only armed with Bret’s vague directions, and after several red herrings, that I found a tiny halal restaurant with a kratom side-hustle. Inside a large cooler were dozens of home-brewed bottles, on sale for 50 baht each (around £1.10).

So perhaps it’s unsurprising that many backpackers in the area said they’d never heard of the drug or seen it for sale. But of those that had, most pointed to southern Thailand. ‘It seems most common in the south,’ says Louie, 28, a British traveller sheltering from a monsoon storm at an Irish pub. ‘There’s this bloke who has a bar in Krabi who constantly posts online about kratom. There’s this weird culture around it. I’ve avoided it, but I know people are trying it.’

Louie was referring to Tom Birchy, a former Ukip campaigner turned controversial influencer, who set up shop in the beach town Ao Nang. He has status in the bizarre, feuding world of male British influencers in Thailand – stumble down that rabbit hole and you’ll come across wild accusations and long monologues updating followers on various defamation cases unfolding in the Thai courts.

But since Birchy – who has 438,000 followers on TikTok – moved to Thailand a couple of years ago, he’s founded the kratom store best known among British backpackers: Knock Out Labs.

‘These are my famous kratom potions,’ Birchy, who did not respond to Telegraph interview requests, says in one TikTok video with more than 580,000 views, showing off his products. ‘Kratom is a leaf that’s used here in Thailand for medicinal purposes, for recreational purposes: it gives energy, helps you tolerate the heat and provides a nice uplifting effect on one’s mood.’

It’s a sales pitch he consistently makes, and certain corners of social media are now awash with people trying Birchy’s ‘potions’ – branded plastic bottles containing brightly coloured kratom concoctions that resemble WKD.

‘It’s pomegranate flavour, a lot nicer than normal kratom,’ wrote harryrst16, in a video last year that racked up more than 2,000 likes. ‘It has a slight bitter aftertaste, but when you think about kratom it’s made out of leaves, that’s what you’d expect. Overall I’d give it a nine out of 10.’

‘I’m going to try a potion: this is the pineapple flavour,’ wrote another user, connxrmac, in December, as he sipped a bright-yellow liquid. In a later video explaining how it affected him, he added: ‘It just made me feel more awake, a bit more alert, I didn’t feel so hot, which was cool. It was a bit like having a Red Bull.’

Intrigued by the hype, I decided to give kratom a go. Long before I knew much about the substance, I’d spotted a kratom soda listed under a ‘mindful elixir’ tab on the menu at a chic café in an old Thai house not far from my flat in Bangkok. I headed over, settled into the lush courtyard garden and picked my poison: a peach and lemon kratom soda, which was described as ‘offering a unique blend of stimulation and tranquillity’.

The drink itself was delicious, and I soon felt my brain kick into a new gear – much like a boost from a strong coffee. I was excited: could this be my flat-white replacement? Despite loving the taste, I had to quit coffee several years ago because it made me shaky.

But an hour later, the bubble burst as a wave of nausea washed over me. Maybe kratom wasn’t for me. Later, when I recounted my experience to Coyner, he offered an explanation: perhaps I hadn’t paired my soda with enough water – like coffee, kratom can be dehydrating.

Which is how I came to try it a second time; a newly brewed iced tea at Sherb’s farm. This iteration was far stronger and much more bitter, akin to the bootleg offerings near Khaosan Road. Coyner raved about it, yet I had no inclination to finish the plastic cup of murky liquid I’d been offered. After a few sips, the mixture hit me hard; I felt sleepy and spaced out on the way back to Bangkok. Would I try it a third time? I’m not sure.

Worldwide, kratom remains one of the least-known recreational substances. In the 2021 Global Drugs Survey, only around 6 per cent of respondents had ever tried it, a figure that stands at 33 per cent for magic mushrooms and 74 per cent for cannabis. But it’s not just Thailand that has a burgeoning kratom market.

While consumption data is limited in much of the world – including the UK, where kratom is legal to possess but illegal to sell or import under the Psychoactive Substances Act – available figures suggest it’s fairly widespread in America. At a US federal level the drug falls into a grey area, but it’s banned in six states and regulated in another 16.

‘The plant is gaining popularity in the Western world, especially in the US,’ says Professor Christopher McCurdy, director of translational drug development at the University of Florida and a drug safety advisor for the US FDA. ‘[US estimates] on the conservative end put it as somewhere around two million [users]. But we definitely feel, based on sales and visibility, that it’s well over 20 million.’

Two years ago, soon after Thailand became the first Asian nation to decriminalize cannabis, Sarunyu Toprasert and three friends joined a rush of pot entrepreneurs and launched the Channel Weed Store.

They opened their third location last month, pouring $27,000 into the operation and bedecking the storefront with a neon light in the shape of a marijuana leaf and a poster advertising prices as low as $4 a gram.

Days later, the country’s prime minister announced that the government was reversing course and would ban recreational marijuana by the end of the year.

“It was a shock,” said Sarunyu, 33. “There were rumors of this happening before, but this time they sounded serious.”

Advertisement

Signs advertising the sale of cannabis along Khaosan Road in Bangkok.

As in California , legalization here hasn’t worked out as planned. Promises of economic salvation for poor farmers have not materialized. There are growing concerns that marijuana is harming children and making the already chaotic roads even more dangerous.

And a growing worry about methamphetamine — which remains illegal — has made drugs in general an appealing target for politicians. In parliamentary elections last year, most political parties campaigned against the recreational use of pot.

“Drugs are a problem that destroys the future of the country,” Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said last month. “Many young people are addicted. We have to work fast.”

Advertisement

He said medical use will be allowed to continue, but details have been sparse, leaving Sarunyu to wonder whether his business has any future.

Behind the counter, which displayed packets of watermelon-flavored weed gummies claiming to be the “world’s strongest,” his friends rolled joints to be sold individually.

“It is all uncertain at this point,” he said. “But it is better to do the best that we can now rather than regret it later.”

::

Marijuana wasn’t always so controversial in Thailand.

The plant’s use in traditional food and medicine dates back centuries. And just a couple of generations ago, farmers in the rural northeast used cannabis to relax after a long day in the fields.

But in 1979, the Thai government caved to U.S. pressure to crack down and passed a comprehensive narcotics act that imposed harsh penalties for smoking, possessing or selling the plant.

A highly publicized war on drugs — which included extrajudicial killings of suspected dealers — followed in the early 2000s. Methamphetamine was the primary target, but the crackdown also deepened the stigma against cannabis.

Advertisement

Tourists walk past Plantopia, a large indoor cannabis-themed mall on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road.

When the country legalized marijuana for medical use in 2018, cultivation was closely supervised by the government while standards for prescriptions were strict.

Not that there was much concern about wider use — polls suggested there was little demand for recreational weed.

Driving the push for broader legalization were concerns about overcrowding in the country’s prisons, where more than 70% of inmates are held on drug charges. The plan’s architect, Anutin Charnvirakul, who was health minister at the time, also touted exporting cannabis and hemp products as a way to help Thailand’s pandemic-stricken economy and its poor farmers.

In June 2022, the government removed marijuana from its list of banned narcotics, and with minimal regulation, the pot industry immediately took off in a way that few anticipated.

More than a million Thais have registered to grow cannabis at home, while more than 12,000 cannabis dispensaries across the country are operating on three-year licenses from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines.

Advertisement

The industry is now projected to be worth around $1.2 billion by the end of 2025, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

1 2 3 4 1. Staffers at the Four Twenty farm harvest cannabis in Bangkok. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times) 2. A staff member at the Four Twenty dispensary prepares cannabis for a customer in Bangkok. 3. Cannabis from the Four Twenty farm. 4. Big, a staff member at the Four Twenty cannabis dispensary, prepares different cannabis strains for sale in Bangkok.

On Khaosan Road, Bangkok’s landmark backpacker haunt, cannabis sales now make up as much as 20% of all revenue, according to Sanga Ruangwattanakul, a dispensary owner and president of the local business association. Customers are often from places where pot is illegal.

“A lot of people from South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong,” he said. “They come here and want to smoke openly.”

He said that his dispensary brings in $16,000 to $19,000 a month and that he keeps at least 60% of that — in large part because the government does not tax pot sales.

By comparison, the typical profit margin for dispensaries in California is 15%.

As the industry grew, the demand for workers has driven up salaries.

“Almost everyone in cannabis pays above average,” said Tai Taveepanichpan, the owner of the franchise Four Twenty, which employs more than 80 people at seven separate companies, including a cannabis cultivation consultancy and a hydroponics equipment supplier.

Advertisement

1 2 3 1. Pre-rolled joints are sold at the Four Twenty cannabis dispensary in Bangkok. 2. Bongs are sold at the Four Twenty cannabis dispensary. 3. Different cannabis strains are readied for sale at a dispensary in Bangkok.

At his indoor cannabis farm in Bangkok last month, workers in white jumpsuits were busy trimming his harvest of White Runtz, a strain developed in Los Angeles. Hunched over trays of the buds, which smelled faintly like cheese, they worked their tiny scissors in silent concentration.

It’s a skill in high demand these days, and his employees make $800 a month, about 36% more than the average national pay. But even that isn’t enough to stop competitors from poaching them.

Tai marveled at what his country had created in such a short time: “This is the most fair and open cannabis market there is in the world right now by far.”

::

It wasn’t long before the pot boom started to raise concerns about public health.

In the first year of legalization, a quarter of adults reported using cannabis, up from 2.3% in 2019, according to surveys by Chulalongkorn University’s Center for Addiction Studies.

Advertisement

The rise has alarmed some doctors, who argue that cannabis can lower children’s IQs and increase car accidents, suicides and mental health episodes.

“It is undeniable that cannabis poses health risks, both mentally and physically, especially for young people and pregnant women ,” the Royal College of Physicians of Thailand said in a June statement.

The government has been collecting reports of cannabis-related incidents from hospitals, and there was a marked increase after decriminalization, according to Anunchai Assawamakin, a pharmacologist at Mahidol University and an advisor to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, one of Thailand’s drug agencies.

There were 20,804 cannabis-linked psychosis cases in the 12 months after the change, up from 10,619 in the 12 months leading up to it.

But Anunchai cautioned that more study is needed.

Korean tourists pose with a statue of Ronald McDonald in front of Plantopia, a cannabis-themed mall in Bangkok.

“Even at this stage, the effects of cannabis legalization are not fully understood,” he said. “We also have a meth problem that is difficult to separate from cannabis since users often take them together.”

Advertisement

In recent years, methamphetamine has been entering the country in record quantities from Myanmar , where political instability has allowed drug cartels to ramp up production. More than 150,000 people were treated for methamphetamine abuse last year, up from about 90,000 in 2022, according to the government.

In October 2022, a 34-year-old former police officer who had been fired for possession of meth stormed a day-care center in Nong Bua Lamphu province and fatally shot or stabbed 36 people — most of them children.

The killings had a profound effect on attitudes about drugs. For many Thais — and the media here — the distinctions among various narcotics are lost.

“The news will say cannabis caused someone to attack an elderly man, but then it turns out that person was using other substances as well,” said Sarunyu, the dispensary owner. “This kind of sensational news coverage has been constant.”

A tailor displays a mannequin wearing a cannabis suit at his shop in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

In such a climate, politicians are under pressure to appear tough on drugs. And at a time when several other policy failures have put the prime minister on the defensive, the cannabis controversy represents an opportunity to score easy political points, given that it was his Pheu Thai Party that was behind the war on drugs 20 years ago.

Advertisement

“Pheu Thai won a lot of votes on their anti-drug policy in the last 20 years,” said Atthachai Homhuan, an attorney specializing in cannabis cases. “So if this policy of reclassifying cannabis as an illegal narcotic fails, there will be no more votes for the prime minister next semester.”

More than 75% of Thais currently back the plan to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, according to one recent poll. Among the plan’s supporters is Narong Promjitta, a 55-year-old beer vendor at a marketplace in the southern island of Phuket.

Like many Thais his age, he dislikes the smell of pot smoke and the mass intrusion of dispensaries along the beaches. He fears the effect this will have on the students who hang out at the market after school.

“I am worried about laws for other drugs like meth being relaxed,” he said. “We don’t need weed tourism. Phuket can grow its economy in other ways.”

::

In California, the marijuana industry has been beset by illegal operations, worker abuses and a failure to live up to its economic promise — issues widely attributed to heavy taxation and poor enforcement of regulations. In Thailand, there are almost no regulations to enforce.

The proponents of legalization here never intended to create a market that was so freewheeling.

Advertisement

Back in early 2022, before removing cannabis from the illegal narcotics list, the then-ruling Bhumjaithai Party proposed a bill known as the Cannabis and Hemp Act that would have confined recreational use to select tourist areas and required dispensaries to have traditional medicine doctors on their premises.

But the bill ran aground in the National Assembly.

“We prepared everything, but there was internal maneuvering to prevent the cannabis side from succeeding,” said Anunchai, who worked on the legislation.

The government pushed ahead with decriminalization anyway, allowing the weed industry to grow in what Anunchai describes as “a vacuum that has dragged on for over two years.”

Staff members stock the shelves at the Four Twenty dispensary in Bangkok.

Other than a handful of provisional measures, such as those against selling cannabis to people younger than 20 or smoking in public, regulations and enforcement are scant. Many vendors openly sell joints from illegal street stalls. There are no rules that prevent licensed dispensaries from opening near schools.

Noah Levit-Ades, a former commercial grower from Los Angeles who moved to Bangkok in the winter to oversee the country’s first hospital-run cannabis farm, said he has been alarmed by the lack of oversight in the recreational market.

Advertisement

Because his crop will be used to manufacture pain or end-of-life care medicines for immunocompromised cancer patients in Thailand and abroad, the indoor facility is certified under the European Union’s accreditation scheme for manufacturing and agricultural standards.

But accreditation is voluntary for cultivators supplying dispensaries. And given the absence of a central tracking system for Thailand’s commercial cannabis inventory, there is no way for authorities to recall products tainted with heavy metals, pesticides or other contaminants.

The Four Twenty cannabis dispensary sells different cannabis strains.

Describing his experience at the dispensaries lining Sukhumvit Road, a tourist zone known for its strip clubs and massage parlors, Levit-Ades said: “Ninety-eight percent of these shops I’ve been to, all the weed has mold. You pop it open and there it is.”

As for the farmers who grow it, the economics haven’t worked in their favor.

In the early days, 2 pounds of dried cannabis buds could fetch about $11,000. Now cultivators can barely get $1,000 for some varieties.

Advertisement

Making matters worse, Thailand is now being flooded with weed illegally imported from California, where the market is also facing a glut .

California Inside California’s pot legalization failures: Corporate influence, ignored warnings Years after California legalized cannabis with Proposition 64, some supporters say it has not met expectations, while those who opposed the initiative say it has proved worse than they feared.

One weed smuggler in Phuket, a Thai national who asked not to be named, estimated that up to 70% of the region’s dispensaries are selling imported cannabis, the majority of it low-quality overflow that was either illegally grown or failed testing in California. He said it is flown in by Thai or American “backpackers” and sold to local dispensaries at cut-rate prices.

“I bring in about 100 kilograms a month,” he said. “It’s very low risk. Once we had a whole plane working for us.”

Many Thai cultivators, facing bankruptcy, are turning to exports of their own, sending pot to countries where it is illegal.

1 2 3 1. A view of the outdoor growing area at the Artemis 98 cannabis farm in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 2. The cannabis harvested from the Artemis 98 farm. 3. A view of the outdoor growing area at the farm.

“It’s now really, really difficult to move cannabis because of the prices,” said one grower in the northern province of Chiang Mai who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of retaliation from his business partners.

Advertisement

Like many other farms in the area, he regularly offloads much of his inventory to a local wholesaler at heavily discounted rates.

“They process it into brick weed and ship it to Malaysia, Laos, Korea, Taiwan,” he said. “A lot of growers use dispensaries as a storefront to showcase their products. But their sales are actually coming from wholesale.”

::

Given the problems and the politics, even the former health minister who led the drive to decriminalize pot has grudgingly pledged his support for undoing that decision.

“We can’t take a personal attitude towards this,” Anutin, who has since joined the current government as interior minister, recently told local media.

But making cannabis illegal again is unlikely to go down easily.

Farmers clean up weeds and grass in a cannabis growing area at the Artemis 98 farm in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The more than a million people who registered their growing activities might wake up one morning as potential criminals. Many of the 3,000 marijuana offenders who were released from prison just two years ago could suddenly find themselves back behind bars. The illegal market would probably bounce back bigger than ever.

Advertisement

Cultivators and dispensary owners have said that they would sue the government for damages.

“Some people have used their entire savings to invest in the business,” said Rattapon Sanrak, a weed activist and the founder of Thailand’s first legal dispensary in 2022. “There are at least 60,000 jobs at stake. Imagine if those people lost their jobs immediately.”

Prasitchai Nunual, head of the advocacy group Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future, said the solution is the Cannabis and Hemp Act — which remains stuck in the National Assembly.

A proper regulatory framework, he said, could include measures to assuage public concerns, such as stricter zoning to keep dispensaries away from children, as well as a better commercial licensing system to stabilize the market and protect small businesses.

“Everyone agrees that it needs to be controlled,” he said. “But government agencies lack the data to make informed decisions regarding cannabis regulation.”

If that means taxes on his sales, Sarunyu, the dispensary owner, is happy to pay.

Advertisement

“But the government needs to show us how it benefits the public,” he said. “For example, the tax revenue from alcohol funds public television.”

Tai Taveepanichpan, a consultant for Canna Grow Technology and the owner of Four Twenty, a chain of cannabis shops with retail locations in Bangkok and Phuket, inspects the harvest at his farm.

Seated across from a shelf filled with shiny new bongs was his only customer, a bespectacled, middle-aged man.

After a brief consultation at the counter, he decided to roll his own rather than buying one of the ready-made joints on offer. The loose cannabis grounds proved to be unwieldy, defying his attempts to corral it with the paper, spilling out in every direction.

He succeeded after several minutes, anointing the joint with a quick stroke of the tongue before lighting up and taking two quick puffs. He flashed a satisfied smile.

He had never tried marijuana before. But after hearing about the impending ban, he had wanted to smoke his first joint while it was still legal.

Advertisement

Special correspondents Poypiti Amatatham in Bangkok and Nattha Thepbamrung in Phuket contributed to this report.

Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot

The use of medical marijuana dates to ancient civilizations, though historians are undecided about whether the first medical use of cannabis was in China, where the plant is indigenous. [1]

Archaeologists unearthed traces of cannabis with high levels of THC (the main psychoactive component of cannabis) in wooden bowls dating to 500 bce in the Jirzankal Cemetery in China, marking the earliest instance of marijuana use found to date. This particular use of marijuana was more likely for a religious rite than medicinal purposes, though religion and medicine were not necessarily kept separate. Such use was described by Greek historian Herodotus: “The Scythians then take the seed of this hemp and, crawling in under the mats, throw it on the red-hot stones, where it smolders and sends forth such fumes that no Greek vapor-bath could surpass it. The Scythians howl in their joy at the vapor-bath.” [2][3][4]

What do you think? Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal? Explore the ProCon debate

The mythological Chinese Emperor Shennong’s pharmacopoeia, Treatise on Medicine (which itself has disputed dates–2737 bce or 1ce and unknown authorship), included marijuana as a treatment for “malaria, constipation, rheumatic pains, ‘absentmindedness’ and ‘female disorders.’” [5][6]

From China, marijuana was introduced to Iran and Anatolia by the Scythians and then spread to India, Greece, Egypt, and throughout Africa. Evidence suggests Arab physicians used marijuana for pain, inflammation, and epileptic seizures, while in India marijuana was used for fevers, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), headaches, sleep, dysentery, digestion, and appetite inducement. In Rome, Emperor Nero’s private physician, Dioscorides, used the plant to treat pain in ears. Marijuana was similarly used in Africa, as evidenced by the Egyptian Ebers papyrus (circa 1550 bce), for fever, pain, infected toenails, and uterine cramps. Other Egyptian papyruses include cannabis as treatment for eye infections (perhaps glaucoma), cholera, menstrual ailments, headaches, schistosomiasis, fever, and colorectal cancer. [1][4][7][8][9][10]

The Moors brought marijuana to Spain during the 8th-century occupation. The Spanish, in turn, took marijuana to the Americas where it was mainly used as a cash crop for producing hemp fiber. Medical use followed quickly, with Mexicans using the drug for gonorrhea, menstrual ailments, pain, and toothaches. [10][11][12][13]

Robert Burton’s The Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) heralded the arrival of marijuana in medieval Europe by suggesting that cannabis be used to treat depression. Thereafter marijuana was recommended for inflammation (New English Dispensatory, 1764) and coughs, STIs, and incontinence (Edinburgh New Dispensary, 1794). [1]

Medical use of marijuana did not gain much popularity in the United Kingdom until W.B. O’Shaughnessy, an Irish professor at the Medical College of Calcutta, India, tested the indigenous Cannabis indica on animals and children after seeing how Indians used marijuana in medicine. O’Shaughnessy reported in 1839 that cannabis was safe and used marijuana to treat rabies, cholera, delirium from alcohol withdrawal, pain, rheumatism, epilepsy, tetanus, and as a muscle relaxer. He deemed marijuana “an anticonvulsant remedy of the greatest value” and brought the drug with him when he returned to England in 1842. [1][7]

The Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal (now the British Medical Journal) put medical cannabis on the front page in 1843, prompting popularity and regular use of the drug as a painkiller, with even Queen Victoria reportedly being prescribed marijuana postpartum and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by her private physician J.R. Reynolds. A tincture of marijuana, frequently added to tea, was used commonly in Victorian England. The 1894 Indian Hemp Drugs Commission stated marijuana was not harmful if used in moderation and could be particularly helpful in treating malaria. [7][14]

In 1860, American doctor R.R. M’Meens, crediting W.B. O’Shaughnessy, extolled the virtues of marijuana to treat “tetanus, neuralgia, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), convulsions, the pain of rheumatism and childbirth, asthma, postpartum psychosis, gonorrhea, and chronic bronchitis” as well as the drug’s use for sleep-inducement and appetite stimulation. Other American doctors prescribed marijuana for restlessness, anxiety, “senile insomnia,” neuralgia, migraines, depression, gastric ulcers, morphine addiction, and asthma, and as a topical anesthetic. [1]

However, the arrival of marijuana wasn’t lauded by everyone. Mark Stewart, a member of the UK Parliament, complained in 1891 that “the lunatic asylums of India are filled with ganja smokers.” Along with negative associations with mental illness, marijuana was also attacked with racist political commentary. In the United States, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) Commissioner Harry Anslinger claimed there were “100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others.” Additionally, the agency was concerned that “marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing.” [1][7][13][15] [16]

By the 1890s, marijuana was falling out of favor among doctors, and U.S. states were working to ban marijuana because of the drug’s association with Mexican immigrants. Massachusetts led the charge, passing a ban on the drug in 1911. [7][10]

The FBN, which would merge with other departments to form what is now the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), worked to pass the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. While the law only taxed marijuana, it effectively banned the drug as well as industrial hemp. The Marihuana Tax Act survived until 1969 when it was declared unconstitutional. However, President Richard Nixon would reinstate the marijuana ban in 1970 with the Controlled Substances Act, which classified cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug (“drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”), beginning Nixon’s “War on Drugs” and effectively ending medical research on the drug. [7][10][16][37]

In the United Kingdom, the Misuse of Drugs Act was passed in 1971, declaring marijuana to have “no known or limited medical use.” The law now classifies marijuana as a Class B drug, which are considered less dangerous than Class A drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, and crystal meth. Class B drugs include amphetamines, barbiturates, and ketamine, along with marijuana. The possession of any Class B drug carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison. [7][17] [18]

While the American federal war on drugs would continue, U.S. states began legalizing medical marijuana in the 1990s. California was the first to legalize cannabis for medical use in 1996, quickly followed by Alaska, Oregon, and Washington state in 1998, and Maine in 1999. By Dec. 2022, 37 states and DC had legalized medical marijuana, leaving only 13 states where medical marijuana is illegal: Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [19]

While states were legalizing medical marijuana, some of the earliest adopting states also began legalizing recreational, or adult-use, marijuana. Colorado and Washington legalized this in 2012—19 other states and D.C. had done so by December 2022. Only states with legal medical marijuana have thus far legalized adult-use marijuana. [20]

An Apr. 2021 Pew Research Center poll found that 91 percent of Americans believed marijuana should be legal for medical use (60 percent for medical and recreational legalization; and 31 percent for only medical legalization). Only 8 percent believed marijuana should not be legal for any reason, and 1 percent did not answer the question. Support for marijuana legalization has steadily increased over the years. [21]