Thailand is one of the newcomers to the short list of places where marijuana is decriminalized. But what are your policies like? Here, we tell you more about it!

After all, what are the policies related to marijuana in Thailand like?

Well, not everything is as it seems: Thailand has a (lack of) policy regarding the plant that is extremely new and confusing. There are few legally permitted products, and the party atmosphere that apparently dominates the place may be about to end. This is because the new government there has just expressed its interest in completely banning adult use in the country.

Are you curious to understand how all this is happening? Here, we bring you up-to-date information about marijuana in Thailand and the country's current cannabis scene. Come dive into this new reality with us!

AFTER ALL, IS MARIJUANA LEGAL IN THAILAND?

Contrary to appearances, marijuana is not fully legal in Thailand for adult use. But there have been significant changes to cannabis-related policies in recent years!

In June 2022, Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis, allowing it to be cultivated and consumed almost freely. However, there are some restrictions, such as a ban on cannabis products with more than 0.2% THC. Furthermore, the legislation allows anyone over the age of 20 to purchase and consume marijuana — as long as they are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

These changes represent a very significant transformation from Thailand's previous stance on marijuana. Before cannabis was criminalized in 1935, the plant was widely used in Thai cuisine and medicine. During the 1970s and 1980s, there was a more tolerant attitude toward marijuana, but the government intensified its “war on drugs” in the following years, resulting in arrests for recreational use and tightening of narcotics laws.

The recent change in legislation indicates an openness to exploring the medicinal and economic benefits of cannabis. Cannabis tourism, for example, is booming there! But it also suggests challenges, such as the emergence of a deregulated market and the need for adjustments to legislation to address these issues. And it is because of them that the country's new government is proposing, once again, to ban all non-medical use there.

WHAT CAN AND CANNOT?

It may seem like a total party with no rules to those watching from the outside, right? But in fact, there are still some restrictions associated with this decriminalization of marijuana in Thailand. For example:

THC limit: Cannabis products with more than 0.2% THC are illegal in Thailand; age and condition: the purchase and consumption of marijuana is only permitted for people over 20 years of age. It is prohibited for pregnant or lactating women; Public places: Smoking in public is technically illegal and subject to public nuisance fines, which can be as high as $780. In extreme cases, it is possible to receive a prison sentence; cultivation and possession in small quantities: legislation allows the cultivation of cannabis for personal use in small quantities. Additionally, people can possess a reasonable amount of marijuana for personal consumption; Domestic travel: People can carry marijuana on planes for domestic flights in Thailand. However, today, anyone who visits the country has a different view of how things are in practice. Not all of these rules are applied — what allows for all this freedom is not exactly the absence of parameters, but rather supervision. And this greatly benefits those who go there to enjoy the new scenery, of course.

WHAT A TOURIST NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA IN THAILAND

stores only display hemp (cannabis with less than 0.2% THC) and other flowers with a higher THC content, although they are technically not allowed. But something that caught our attention is that neither edibles nor hashish and other extractions are legal.

That doesn't mean you don't find concentrates there. Many dispensaries have some options available, but they are not displayed. You have to ask the sellers, and many give you a hard time. It is also difficult to find high-quality concentrates. She managed to buy a few grams of temple ball-shaped hashish — around 800 baht for two grams. Flowers cost between 700 and 1,000 baht per gram.

AND WHAT ARE THE FUTURE PROSPECTS?

For now, it's difficult to say how long Thailand's cannabis paradise will last. According to the latest news, it was already an election promise from new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to end the legal loopholes that allowed the adult use of marijuana in Thailand.

A new law was proposed in early 2024 in an attempt by authorities to crack down on the industry, after a previous bill failed to gain the backing of parliament. According to Thavisin, restricting the use of marijuana to medicinal purposes would be a response to “concerns about addiction”.

Under this new bill, anyone who smokes marijuana without authorization for medical use will have to pay a fine of up to 60,000 baht ($1,720). Those who sell marijuana or concentrates for adult use can face up to a year in prison or fines of 100,000 baht, or both penalties.

In other words: although beautiful, the scenario is extremely uncertain.

To the next!