History has a habit of repeating itself—but rarely as frequently as it does in Thailand. It was less than a year ago when the country ousted its fifth Prime Minister in 20 years, and already it looks set to oust another. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who succeeded her fellow Pheu Thai party member Srettha Thavisin in August 2024, was suspended by the Constitutional Court on July 1 pending a ruling on an ethics complaint stemming from her controversial handling of a border dispute with Cambodia.

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Paetongtarn’s deputy, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, initially stepped in as caretaker Prime Minister, though his rein was short-lived as he was soon replaced on July 3 by Pheu Thai veteran and former Defense Minister Phumtham ‘Big Comrade’ Wechayachai, following a cabinet reshuffle that also saw the suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn sworn in as Culture Minister. Whether by court order, resignation, or political maneuvering, experts say, it’s unlikely Paetongtarn will ever return to the premiership. What comes next, however, is far from clear. The populist Pheu Thai party—which has largely been seen as a political vehicle for Paetongtarn’s influential father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra—took power after 2023 elections in which it finished second to the progressive reformist Move Forward party. In what was described at the time as a devil’s bargain, Pheu Thai partnered with conservative and military-aligned parties it had campaigned against to form a fragile coalition government.

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In recent weeks, that fragile coalition has fallen apart. Its second-largest member party, Bhumjaithai, defected to the opposition. And remaining member parties have demanded concessions and threatened to leave, too. Should Paetongtarn be removed or resign, the Thai National Assembly will have to vote on a new Prime Minister—but only Prime Minster candidates from the 2023 election would be eligible. If a majority of lawmakers can’t agree on a new leader, the caretaker would stay in place until the deadlock is broken. But if a majority of lawmakers can’t agree on a new leader but can get behind a no-confidence vote on the Pheu Thai-led government, then parliament would be dissolved and fresh elections would be held—two years ahead of schedule. As much as the broader view of Thai politics seems to end up in the same place over and over again, the details of its twists and turns along the way can also be unpredictable, and no one knows exactly what lies ahead.

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Here are four possible paths to know. Read More: Exclusive: Thai Princes Banished Again as Eldest Says ‘I Did Nothing Wrong’ The ruling party holds on, with another new leader Pheu Thai fielded three candidates in the last election: Srettha, Paetongtarn, and Chaikasem Nitisiri. With Srettha gone and Paetongtarn likely on her way out, Chaikasem would be its last option. Chaikasem, who turns 77 in August, has extensive government experience: a former attorney general, he served as Minister of Justice under former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra—Thaksin’s sister and Paetongtarn’s aunt—until that government was overthrown in 2014. But there are a number of issues surrounding Chaikasem that “his opponents could exploit,” Napon Jatusripitak, visiting fellow and acting coordinator of the Thailand Studies Programme at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, tells TIME. Chaikasem has previously expressed openness to amending Thailand’s controversial lèse-majesté law, which crosses a red line for many conservative royalists.

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His health has also been a concern, after he suffered a stroke while on the campaign trail in 2023. Chaikasem has tried to allay concerns about his health, telling reporters recently: “The stroke issue is no longer a problem. The large and small blood clots in my neck have dissolved, and my life is back to normal. I was able to play golf comfortably yesterday.” He offered himself as ready albeit reluctant to step up. “I would be willing to serve if assigned. But if I had a choice, I’d rather not — that would suit me just as well,” he said. “Am I ready to take on the premiership? As long as I remain in politics, I must always be prepared. But do I truly want to be Prime Minister? Who would willingly take on such an exhausting job? I wouldn’t. I’d rather spend time with my family and do whatever I please.” Conservatives push a military return to power Right now, the Pheu Thai-led coalition still holds a slim majority. But three medium-sized junior parties—United Thai Nation, the Klatham Party, and the Democrat Party—are sizable enough that their defection would tilt the balance. Of those, only United Thai Nation has a viable path to the premiership.

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United Thai Nation, the party of former junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha, is an ultra-conservative, pro-military, pro-monarchy party that fielded two Prime Minister candidates in the last election: Prayut, a former army general who seized power in 2014 and whose premiership until 2023 was marked by authoritarianism and crackdowns on democracy, and Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, the party’s current leader and a deputy prime minister and energy minister in the current government. While some observers have speculated that Pirapan could make a play for the premiership, Napon says he does not have adequate support from even within his own party. Pirapan is being investigated by a national anti-corruption commission over an alleged ethics violation. Prayut, on the other hand, could emerge as a “wildcard” candidate, Napon says, for conservatives to unite behind, if there’s an impasse in parliament. Following UTN’s decisive defeat at the polls in 2023, Prayut announced his retirement from politics, though he was appointed to the King’s body of advisers later in the year.

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While Prayut is only eligible to serve two more years before he reaches constitutional term limits, Titipol Phakdeewanich, a political scientist at Ubon Ratchathani University in Thailand, tells TIME that he could potentially pursue a comeback to lead the country until its next elections in 2027 by leveraging his “connections with the military and the establishment” to present himself as a “reassuring” intracoalition option for Pheu Thai patriarch Thaksin, who faces multiple legal battles including a lèse-majesté prosecution, to back. “That means the power is still controlled by the elite and the conservative establishment,” which could be a positive for Thaksin, says Titipol, though he adds: “I don’t think it would be good for the future of Thai democracy.” A ‘frenemy’ rejoins the coalition to helm it—or leads a new interim government with the support of the opposition The biggest blow to Pheu Thai in recent weeks has been the defection of its largest coalition partner, Bhumjaithai.

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The third-largest party in parliament, behind Move Forward’s new incarnation the People’s Party and Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai was the largest coalition partner of the previous Prayut-led government and had made decriminalizing marijuana the centerpiece of its 2019 campaign. Its leader, former Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, sought the premiership in 2023 and, after joining the Pheu Thai-led coalition government—despite Pheu Thai’s campaign promises to recriminalize marijuana—was placed in charge of the powerful Interior Ministry. But in June, ahead of a contentious cabinet reshuffle that was expected to see Anutin lose his post, Bhumjaithai left the coalition, and Pheu Thai quickly moved to recriminalize marijuana. Bhumjaithai originally said it would call for a no-confidence vote, but on July 3, after officially joining the opposition, it said it would hold off. The head of the opposition, People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, suggested that to avoid political deadlock, one scenario could be for the opposition to back a “caretaker government” with a limited, clear mandate until new elections, focusing on stability and democratic reforms.

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“I cannot speak unilaterally,” Natthaphong said. “Ultimately, the other side—the Bhumjaithai Party and Mr. Anutin himself—must also be in agreement with us.” Anutin, however, denied agreeing to such a plan. “I have never proposed myself as an interim prime minister. The claim is untrue,” he said, adding that further discussions would need to take place. Napon is skeptical that a Bhumjaithai-People’s Party alliance would work. If the People’s Party helps Anutin achieve the premiership but opts to remain in the opposition rather than joining the government, as it said it would, “there’s a real risk that the result would be an unstable minority government that struggles to pass key legislation,” says Napon. “Would the People’s Party then be expected to help get it over the line? If so, wouldn’t that blur the boundary between government and opposition?” Furthermore, “there are no guarantees that the new government would deliver on the People’s Party’s conditions—namely, constitutional reform and the [eventual] dissolution of the House.”

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But those concerns assume the plan even gets off the ground. The first issue, Napon says, is that the two parties alone fall short of a majority needed to decide the next Prime Minister. “They would still need to court additional MPs—potentially from hard-to-please parties.” “Even though the People’s Party has backed away from its earlier push to amend the lèse-majesté law, any form of deal-making with the party could still be viewed unfavorably by the conservative establishment, which continues to wield significant influence over the scope and longevity of Thai democracy,” Napon adds. “Such a move could backfire on Bhumjaithai and undermine its efforts in recent years to position itself as a protector of conservative interests and a reliable ally of the establishment.” Napon believes that Anutin may be using interest in cooperation from the People’s Party to “make himself appear more valuable and viable” to the conservative establishment—and Pheu Thai. “By suggesting that the People’s Party is open to backing him under certain terms, he positions himself as the candidate with the broadest potential appeal. In reality, though, it is still Pheu Thai—not the People’s Party—that holds the key to delivering him the numbers. The People’s Party serves more as a political prop that will allow Anutin to raise his price in the eyes of the establishment and potential coalition partners.”

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A renegotiation between Pheu Thai and Bhumjaithai is not off the table, says Titipol. The two parties have historically been “frenemies,” he says, and while they differ on marijuana policy, they do not have any repelling fundamental ideologies that could prevent them from reconciling. Anutin, according to Napon, was already “best positioned” to be the coalition’s next Prime Minister after Paetongtarn, and the Constitutional Court dropping a case against Bhumjaithai the same day it suspended Paetongtarn sent a “strong signal” that there’s support for the party within the establishment. “I can see a scenario where Pheu Thai would be forced to support Anutin as Prime Minister,” says Napon, “because it has no other options” that would keep it even in proximity to power. Progressives win a fresh election A very unlikely but not technically impossible option would be for Pheu Thai to relinquish its hold on government and choose to dissolve parliament—a move which the party has already said it won’t do—or for the opposition to get a majority of members to support a no-confidence motion, which People’s Party leader and leader of the opposition Natthaphong has reiterated is his preferred course of action.

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Either scenario would fast-track a new general election, which would allow voters to have their say on who gets to replace Paetongtarn.

A June poll from the National Institute of Development Administration shows that the People’s Party remains the public’s top choice: nearly 1-in-3 respondents picked 38-year-old Natthaphong as their preferred next Prime Minister, followed by about 13% picking Prayut and 10% picking Anutin, while about 20% of respondents said they hadn’t decided on a preference yet.

But as the last election showed, Thailand isn’t a democracy, and the people’s pick won’t necessarily take power following an election.

“The establishment and the deals are always made by those who are in power, and people don’t actually have much say on that,” says Titipol. Still, he adds, an election would allow people to “express their frustration” and “dissatisfaction.” And while “crony politics” seems unshakeable, he says, for many, optimism is too: “In Thailand, actually, anything is possible, even if it is impossible.”

After 45 minutes, a visibly uncomfortable official issued the verdict: the brothers were refused entry to Thailand, the country where their father reigns as King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X of the Chakri Dynasty, the world’s wealthiest monarch with a fortune estimated at some $60 billion. The rejection left Max “physically and mentally crushed,” he tells TIME in an exclusive interview. “Because I’ve missed my homeland every day of my life, and I’ve always dreamed of going back.”

Aside from a fleeting 12-hour visit in January, during which the brothers were detained, interrogated, and harassed by security officials wherever they went, this would have been the first time they had set foot on Thai soil since being banished by their father in 1996, along with their mother and two other brothers, following their parents’ high-profile divorce.

The heartbreak at the border spurred Max, 45, and Vatchrawee, 40, to pen a Facebook post that pinned blame on “a small yet powerful group of individuals, seeking to preserve their influence within the monarchy, legal system, and political sphere.” Max returned to his life as an aerospace engineer living in downtown San Diego, where his American wife was born and they recently moved with their three children to be closer to her family. But he agreed to speak exclusively to TIME about his family’s ordeal since their banishment and his burning desire for reconciliation.

Thai cannabis entrepreneur Tom Kreusophon embraces new health ministry regulations, highlighting trained budtenders, licensed dispensaries, telemedicine support and strict oversight that transforms the market into a safe, regulated and profitable medical cannabis industry going forward.

Thai cannabis entrepreneur Tom Kreusophon calls the Pheu Thai government’s new marijuana rules a major opportunity, not a threat. He says trained ‘budtenders’ and licensed dispensaries can now operate under full medical supervision, protecting patients and legitimising the market. The system, built on the June 2022 free-for-all and now new regulations, ends the chaos of casual highs and uncontrolled proliferation that forced government intervention. Kreusophon warns that operators ignoring medical standards will face enforcement, while compliant businesses are poised to thrive. Medical cannabis is now a serious business.

Chulaphas Kreusophon, widely known as “Tom Kreusophon,” is a leading figure in Thailand’s cannabis industry. He is the founder of Golden Triangle Health Co., Ltd. (GTH), a company at the forefront of medical cannabis development. This week, Mr. Kreusophon issued statements emphasising the readiness of Thailand’s cannabis sector to embrace the Ministry of Public Health’s new regulations. He stressed that the industry is not only prepared to adapt but also to thrive under the legal framework.

Mr. Kreusophon specifically highlighted the emerging role of “budtenders,” medical assistants who will operate in dispensaries and wellness centres. These trained professionals are designed to support patients safely while expanding small business opportunities.

Budtenders are central to Thailand’s medical cannabis rollout, supporting patients and creating jobs

Furthermore, he underlined the importance of integrating telemedicine into medical cannabis distribution, ensuring patients can access treatments efficiently. According to Mr. Kreusophon, the cannabis sector is currently adjusting its business model to align with government regulations.

In addition, he noted that clinics, dispensaries, and wellness centres across Thailand are already restructuring operations to meet legal standards. He emphasised that this adaptation is crucial to creating a market offering that will both work for patients and comply with the law.

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has identified multiple medical needs that medical cannabis can address. For instance, sleep insomnia is a widespread issue in Thailand. Moreover, cannabis shows potential for treating chronic pain, migraines, Parkinson’s disease and anorexia. Mr. Kreusophon emphasised that proper training and oversight are essential to ensure patients receive safe and effective treatment.

Since June 2022, the cannabis sector has evolved significantly. Initially, many operators struggled to meet regulatory requirements, and several even abandoned operations. However, Mr. Kreusophon explained that today the industry has clarity.

Thailand’s cannabis industry has matured since June 2022, providing legal clarity and clear pathways

Legal pathways exist, and operators adhering to certification and training now have strong opportunities to succeed. In contrast, those pursuing cannabis solely for recreational use continue to face legal risks and industry disapproval.

Mr. Kreusophon emphasised that political affiliation does not define cannabis policy. Whether the Ministry of Public Health is led by the Pheu Thai Party under Minister Somsak Thepsutin or the Bhumjaithai Party under Anutin Charnvirakul, medical cannabis policy remains consistent. Therefore, entrepreneurs can rely on continuity and stability.

Furthermore, he noted that both major parties have historically supported medical cannabis, reflecting a shared vision for legalisation.

He also addressed past legislative obstacles. Previously, the Democrat Party blocked bills to legalise medical cannabis and establish clear regulations. Consequently, the lack of legal clarity hindered operators and patients alike. However, the current law has resolved these issues, ensuring that medical cannabis can now be safely prescribed and distributed.

Both major political parties support medical cannabis, ensuring continuity and stable industry regulation

The Ministry of Public Health has restricted legal cannabis use to five medical conditions. Patients may only use cannabis buds for insomnia, chronic pain, migraines, Parkinson’s disease and anorexia.

In addition, each patient must obtain a prescription from an accredited doctor or pharmacist. Prescriptions cover treatment for a maximum of 30 days. Cannabis may only be purchased in licensed shops sourcing product from certified farms. Furthermore, advertising, online sales and vending machine distribution remain strictly prohibited.

To ensure compliance, the government implemented the CannaMed Connect system. This centralised platform records prescriptions, monitors distribution, registers licensed outlets and prevents misuse.

Therefore, patients gain reliable access to treatments while authorities maintain oversight. In addition, the system supports telemedicine and medical training, further professionalising the sector. Mr. Kreusophon called CannaMed Connect a cornerstone for building trust in Thailand’s medical cannabis market.

CannaMed Connect ensures safe distribution and oversight while supporting telemedicine and training

The sector also now includes properly trained budtenders. These individuals assist patients, guide proper consumption, and ensure adherence to medical protocols. Furthermore, their inclusion supports small business growth by creating structured job opportunities within dispensaries. Mr. Kreusophon explained that this approach aligns with international best practices, providing safe access while expanding the economy.

Mr. Kreusophon further explained that Thailand’s cannabis industry now has two distinct approaches. The first embraces medical cannabis and adheres to the government’s vision.

Meanwhile, the second focuses on short-term recreational use, which industry experts increasingly recognise as abuse. Therefore, legal operators who adopt medical standards are well-positioned for long-term growth, whereas recreational operators remain vulnerable to legal penalties.

He stressed that entrepreneurs must follow clear, regulated pathways. Those operating within the medical framework and completing proper training enjoy protection from enforcement actions. In contrast, those selling cannabis illegally face fines, closure and reputational damage. Therefore, compliance and education are the key drivers of sustainable industry growth.

Legal adherence and regulated pathways are essential for long-term success in Thailand’s cannabis industry

The businessman insisted that whether the new Cabinet is led by the Red Party or the Blue Party, the medical cannabis law is now already finalised. Consequently, the new government does not need to adjust policies. Furthermore, he noted that cannabis regulation is now a bipartisan issue, reflecting national priorities rather than party politics.

The cannabis law aligns with Anutin Charnvirakul’s longstanding principle: cannabis is for patients in need, not recreational users. In addition, Mr. Kreusophon emphasised that international observers should understand Thailand’s medical cannabis policy. The country is establishing itself as a medical, not recreational, cannabis nation. Therefore, strict oversight and patient-focused regulation are essential.

Thailand’s current framework benefits both healthcare and economic growth. Licensed dispensaries, trained budtenders, and telemedicine services now operate within a legal, structured system. Furthermore, the CannaMed Connect platform ensures transparency and accountability across the entire supply chain. Mr. Kreusophon emphasised that these systems create a stable foundation for the industry’s future.

Thailand’s cannabis framework balances patient care, economic growth, and transparent legal oversight

He also highlighted the role of leadership in guiding the sector. Figures such as Dr. Somrerk Chungsaman, Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, and Minister Somsak Thepsutin have driven regulatory clarity.

In addition, Mr. Kreusophon praised Anutin Charnvirakul for advocating patient-focused cannabis use since the beginning. Consequently, the industry now operates with clear rules, training requirements, and oversight mechanisms.

The new medical cannabis law also enables telemedicine, expanding patient access to care. Therefore, patients in remote areas can obtain guidance and prescriptions legally. Furthermore, this approach helps integrate cannabis into Thailand’s broader healthcare system while maintaining strict medical oversight.

Economic opportunities also emerge from the current framework. Small businesses benefit from certified dispensaries, trained budtenders, and telemedicine integration. Furthermore, this structure creates a regulated market that attracts investment while discouraging illegal practices. Mr. Kreusophon emphasised that sustainability depends on adhering to regulations, training programs and ethical distribution practices.

Leadership and clear regulations enable growth, telemedicine, and sustainable investment in Thailand

Thailand’s legal cannabis framework also sends a clear signal internationally. The country is committed to medical use, patient safety, and responsible economic growth. Meanwhile, operators and investors can plan with certainty because legal pathways are well-defined. Furthermore, recreational users have no legal avenue, minimising potential abuse.

Mr. Kreusophon stressed that continuity and stability are critical. Operators who comply with regulations will prosper. Meanwhile, those seeking quick profits outside the medical system face growing enforcement and legal risks. Therefore, strict adherence to the law is both a business strategy and a public health requirement.

He concluded by emphasising that the new Cabinet must focus on national priorities, including border security, economic policy and constitutional reform. In addition, he noted that medical cannabis is now a self-sustaining system. Therefore, politicians should not disrupt a framework that already benefits patients, operators and the national economy.

Compliance, stability, and a self-sustaining framework ensure Thailand’s cannabis industry thrives long term

Overall, Thailand’s medical cannabis sector is entering a new era. With strict oversight, certified operators, and patient-focused policies, the industry is structured for sustainable growth. Furthermore, initiatives such as CannaMed Connect, budtender certification and telemedicine integration ensure that the system remains transparent, safe and effective.

Since June 2022, the cannabis sector has transformed from a fragmented market into a legal, regulated industry. Early setbacks have been replaced with clarity, professional standards and a path for long-term success.

Meanwhile, political continuity ensures that medical cannabis policy remains consistent. Therefore, Thailand is positioned as a model for responsible medical cannabis regulation.

Further reading:

People’s Party MP called for cannabis to be stamped out in Phuket. Warns it drives away high end tourists

Thaksin blames charter for indecisive governance and cannabis for a fall in Thailand’s tourism appeal

Thaksin lifts morale of followers as US deal is in the works with a final rate close to that of Vietnam

Senate Committee Chair tells government to send Trump’s men packing and accept the 36% tariff rate

Trump tariff crisis has exposed the colonisation of the Thai economy by Chinese zero-dollar factories

Thai SME sector raises the alarm as the government struggles to deal with a fast-moving US tariff crisis

Thaksin joins Thai tariff crisis talks at Phitsanulok Mansion. Confirms real fears of Chinese retaliation

Thailand still in denial about the gravity of its position as the US effectively downgrades it economically

Vietnam becomes the US partner of choice while Thailand is gutted with 36% tariff and left the big loser



In the middle of Thailand’s latest political crisis, conservative politician Anutin Charnvirakul chatted at a snazzy bar with the country’s second-richest man and shared a homemade lunch with a powerful former general. Pictures of both meetings splashed across social media.

The images — one with energy billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi, the other with ex-army chief Prawit Wongsuwan — served their purpose, signaling the businessman-turned-politician was about to make a long-desired bid for power.

And they came as Anutin saw an opening: The Constitutional Court was set to decide whether to remove Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of a rival party. After it ruled she made ethical violations — booting her from office — he’s now primed to become Thailand’s 32nd premier when parliament votes Friday on a new leader.

The Marijuana Herald – Marijuana news and information

Lawmakers in Thailand are preparing to vote on elevating Anutin Charnvirakul, the politician who spearheaded the country’s marijuana decriminalization, to prime minister.

Known by many as “cannabis king,” Anutin is expected to secure enough support to form a government, making him Thailand’s third leader in less than a year.

Anutin, 58, rose to prominence as health minister during the pandemic, where he became the leading force behind Thailand’s 2022 decision to decriminalize marijuana—the first such move in Asia. His Bhumjaithai (Pride of Thailand) Party has built much of its brand on that reform, which helped drive tourism and new business before calls for tighter regulations emerged. While Anutin has since supported additional controls on cannabis, his image as the face of marijuana reform remains central to his political identity.

Backed by a family construction empire and years as a power broker in Thai politics, Anutin is now positioned to take the top role after striking a deal with the opposition People’s Party, the largest bloc in parliament. The pact is expected to give him enough votes in the lower house to win Friday’s leadership contest. As part of the agreement, Anutin has promised to dissolve parliament within four months and call fresh elections. The People’s Party, however, has said it will not join his government despite backing him in the vote.

His potential elevation follows the dramatic removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was ousted by the constitutional court last week for ethics violations. The ruling was another blow to the Shinawatra dynasty, which has shaped Thai politics for two decades but is now losing its grip.

Thailand remains mired in political turmoil, with five prime ministers removed by the judiciary in the last 17 years. Its economy, heavily dependent on exports and tourism, is also under strain, facing new tariffs from the U.S. and slow post-pandemic recovery. Anutin’s rise highlights both the volatility of Thailand’s political landscape and the lasting impact of marijuana policy on its shifting balance of power.

The post Thailand’s “Cannabis King” Who Spearheaded Decriminalization Poised to Become Prime Minister appeared first on The Marijuana Herald.