Cannabis News
Thailand cannabis news, legalisation updates, medical cannabis, and industry trends—stay informed on regulations, research, and the impact of cannabis on society. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for cannabis news in Thailand.
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Thailand moves to rein in the cannabis market it created
Thailand’s Cabinet approved a cannabis control bill today, September 22, that would tighten oversight from cultivation through to retail sales, reinforce the country’s medical-use framework and introduce clearer penalties for violations. The draft will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration. Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said cannabis farms in Thailand would have to be registered by size…
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Dozens of Phuket dispensaries lose permits in enforcement drive
Phuket cannabis shops are facing tighter enforcement after officials revoked 35 licences and suspended 112 as part of ongoing inspections, according to figures presented at a provincial economic committee meeting. The figures were presented at the sixth meeting of the Joint Public-Private Sector Committee for Solving Economic Problems in Phuket for fiscal year 2026, chaired by Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsum…
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Four Twenty opens its doors to Thai cannabis farms with guaranteed purchase commitments and technical support
Thailand’s cannabis market has contracted sharply over the past two years. Thousands of dispensaries have closed; those that remain are operating under a medical framework that demands higher standards, and supply chains are being rebuilt from the ground up around compliance rather than convenience. Against that backdrop, Four Twenty has announced Project Atlas, a nationwide farm partnership initiative designed to…
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Cannabis in Thailand 2026: how Bangkok dispensaries are adapting to the new medical-only rules
Four years ago, Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis. By 2023, Bangkok’s streets were lined with dispensaries, green crosses glowing above shopfronts from Sukhumvit to Silom, and tourists were treating the country’s weed scene as part of the travel experience. That version of the Thai cannabis market no longer exists, and the question of whether cannabis…
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Thai government tightens regulations to restrict cannabis for medical uses
The Thai government launched a crackdown on illegal cannabis stores in Phuket, finding 533 stores failing to renew their permits while 12 others had their permission suspended. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Lucksameesaengchan announced yesterday, July 19, that authorities are increasing inspections of businesses involved in the production and sale of cannabis flowers as part of efforts to prevent misuse and…
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Bhumjaithai MP denies pushing recreational cannabis use
A Bhumjaithai Party list MP has denied the party ever supported free or recreational cannabis use, insisting its policy has always been medical use only under strict law. Suphachai Jaisamut posted on Facebook yesterday, July 4, saying cannabis has become a heavily debated issue in politics, society and the media, with Bhumjaithai often wrongly blamed for the country’s cannabis problems.…
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Product Watch warns Thai youth about cannabis vapes
Product Watch issued a warning yesterday, January 29, that electric cannabis vapes are spreading rapidly among young people, highlighting their low cost, easy availability, and toy‑like design as growing risks to children and teens. Associate Professor Dr Sirach Lapyai from the Faculty of Public Health at Mahidol University, who also manages the Product Watch project monitoring dangerous health products, said…
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Over 7,000 cannabis shops close as Thailand overhauls regulations
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed yesterday, January 5, that more than 7,000 cannabis shops closed nationwide in 2025, following a sharp drop in licence renewals under a new regulatory framework approved by the Cabinet. Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the ministry had been briefed on progress surrounding a draft ministerial regulation covering permits to study, research, export, sell,…
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Trump reclassifies cannabis in major US drug policy shift
US President Donald Trump has ordered a change to federal drug regulations, signing an executive order to downgrade cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III narcotic, the most significant shift in American drug policy in decades. The reclassification would place cannabis in the same category as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and Tylenol with codeine, substances considered to have legitimate…
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Phuket pushes for stricter cannabis rules to protect tourism image
Phuket’s authorities are advocating for more stringent cannabis regulations after a rise in incidents involving foreign tourists displaying erratic behaviour has negatively impacted the island’s tourism image. Sarayut Mallum, vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association, highlighted that many instances of foreign visitors behaving unusually have been linked to excessive cannabis consumption. He noted, ‘Some tourists smoked multiple joints consecutively, resulting…
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Cannabis U-turn: Bhumjaithai vows drug war in 4 months
A senior Bhumjaithai MP told Parliament that the government will prioritise tackling the drug crisis, declaring cannabis reform finished and seeking four months to act. Deputy Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai Party MP for Buriram Sophon Saram made his stance crystal clear during a heated parliamentary session this morning, declaring that tackling Thailand’s drug problem will be his party’s top priority.…
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Bags of cannabis dumped outside Udon Thani home baffle locals
Villagers in Udon Thani were shocked when sealed bags of cannabis were found dumped outside a house, prompting a police investigation into the source. Residents of Ban Si Wilai in Mueang district, Udon Thani, were left both alarmed and confused after discovering 16 bags of dried cannabis dumped outside a home yesterday, September 26. The incident was reported to local…
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Hong Kong Customs seize 6kg of cannabis from Thailand flight
Hong Kong Customs seized 6 kilograms of suspected cannabis from a passenger arriving from Bangkok, leading to an arrest and trafficking charges. Cannabis buds valued at approximately HK$1.3 million (approximately 5.98 million Thai baht) were confiscated at Hong Kong International Airport. The seizure followed the arrival of a 23 year old female passenger from Bangkok. During routine customs clearance, officers…
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Chon Buri cannabis shop raid uncovers illegal drugs and items
In Chon Buri, a cannabis shop was raided, resulting in the seizure of 20 kilogrammes of dried cannabis flowers, illegal Tramadol, and a variety of illicit cigarettes and e-cigarettes. This operation took place today, September 3, following multiple complaints from residents. Pacharapach Sritanyanon, the Bang Lamung district chief, instructed Nattawat Sophonsawetasilp and Kittiboonratnanet from the public health department to conduct…
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Cannabis clampdown: Thailand limits buds to 5 medical uses
Forget rolling a joint for fun: Thai health chiefs have slammed the brakes on cannabis use, ruling that buds can only be legally consumed by patients with specific medical conditions and a doctor’s prescription. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) confirmed the strict new rules, narrowing the scope of cannabis usage after months of heated debate over…
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Scottish drug mule with cannabis haul from Thailand dodges jail
A Scottish woman sobbed in court as she avoided jail despite being caught with more than 30 kilogrammes of cannabis stuffed into two suitcases after flying back from Thailand. The woman, 22 year old Kiala Wyles, was promised £10,000 (approximately 450,000 baht) to act as a courier but was intercepted by Border Force officials when she landed at Manchester Airport…
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Toilet drug kitchen busted in Bangkok cannabis snack raid
Bangkok police have uncovered a cannabis snack production house where toilets were used as mixing stations, seizing nearly a million baht’s worth of illegal products—just days after a toddler was hospitalised from eating one of the jellies. The Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) launched the raid following social media reports that a two year old child had eaten a jelly,…
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Weed stench driving tourists away, claims Phuket MP
A Phuket MP has lit up controversy by claiming that the smell of cannabis on local beaches is driving away big-spending tourists and damaging the island’s reputation. Yesterday, July 25, Chalermpong Saengdee, an MP for Phuket from the People’s Party, issued a fiery statement slamming the lack of cannabis regulation and the government’s “careless” visa-free policy, warning that Thailand’s top…
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Joint venture: British woman caught with cannabis stash walks free
A British woman has narrowly escaped jail after being busted smuggling nearly 50 kilogrammes of cannabis into the UK following a trip to Thailand, prompting a judge to ask, “What possessed you?” Lauren Martin, from Liverpool, was stopped by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport on April 5 this year after arriving on a flight from Thailand. When questioned about…
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Brit mum busted in Munich drug sting after Thailand detour
A British mum has been charged after she was reportedly caught smuggling cannabis from Thailand to Germany, becoming the latest in a troubling wave of young UK nationals caught in overseas weed crackdowns. Cameron Bradford, a 21 year old from Knebworth, Hertfordshire, is facing serious charges in Germany after being arrested at Munich Airport on April 22. Immigration officers declared…
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Highway: Foreign tourist tries to pay Pattaya taxi fare with marijuana
A foreign tourist tried to pay his 2,000-baht taxi fare from Bangkok to Pattaya with a giant bag of marijuana, leaving the stunned cabbie out of pocket and steaming mad. The bizarre incident unfolded in the early hours of today, July 15, when 54 year old veteran driver Prachuap, picked up the man at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for a trip…
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Weed crackdown: Thailand to force cannabis shops to hire doctors
Thailand’s cannabis boom is about to get a massive reality check. Starting later this year, thousands of cannabis retailers will be legally transformed into healthcare facilities—and required to have a doctor on-site to dispense weed. At a packed press conference yesterday, July 8, Thanakrit Jit-areerat, Secretary to the Minister of Public Health, announced that the Department of Thai Traditional and…
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FDA cracks down on illegal cannabis products in Thailand
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is intensifying efforts to eliminate illegal cannabis products across Thailand. Emphasising the importance of checking labels, they are prosecuting imported goods with THC levels exceeding legal limits. This move follows an incident where a two year old girl accidentally consumed cannabis-infused jelly, necessitating hospital treatment. Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin instructed the FDA and provincial…
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Former UK Asda manager jailed for smuggling cannabis from Thailand
Louisa De Marco, a 53 year old former Asda manager, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison, half to be served behind bars, for attempting to smuggle over 31 kilogrammes of cannabis into the UK via Manchester Airport. She was offered £10,000 (440,835 baht) for the job, allegedly orchestrated during a trip to Thailand, but pocketed nothing after losing her…
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7 Phuket cannabis shops shut down in crackdown blitz
A major cannabis crackdown has rocked Phuket’s Cherng Talay area after officials swooped in and shut down seven shops caught flouting regulations in broad daylight. The Thalang District Office wasted no time ordering the immediate suspension of licences following a coordinated raid that exposed a litany of offences, ranging from illegal sales to on-site smoking. The operation unfolded yesterday, July…
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Thai cannabis prescriptions standardised, symptoms list clarified
Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has confirmed that the new cannabis prescription form, known as PorThor 33, will proceed without the previously listed 15 medical symptoms, following concerns about overlapping authority among professional groups. Somruk Chungsaman, Director-General of the department, said yesterday, June 30, that the decision aims to allow each of the seven recognised professions to…
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Illegal gold miners jailed and fined 500,000 baht each
Thong Pha Phum Provincial Court has sentenced two people to five years in prison and a fine of 500,000 baht each under sections 90 and 78 of the Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from illegal gold mining activities within a national park and a protected forest area. The defendants, Achong and Anusorn, were charged by the Thong Pha Phum Provincial…
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Thailand rolls out cannabis prescription form for 15 conditions
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) issued an official prescription form for medical cannabis. The move yesterday, June 30, follows the Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on controlled herbs, which sets out strict regulations for cannabis use. The form, known as P.T.33, allows authorised practitioners across seven professions — including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and traditional healers —…
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Thailand cannabis crackdown: New prescription rules spark outcry
Thailand’s cannabis free-for-all is coming to an abrupt end, with health chiefs vowing to tighten the rules on who can grow, sell, and smoke the controversial herb. Dr Tewan Thanirat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), announced that stricter controls are on the way. Under the proposed regulations, anyone selling cannabis flower buds will…
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Thailand’s cannabis recriminalisation: What’s the damage?
Thailand has recently reversed its decision to decriminalise cannabis, with the Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signing an order on June 23, preventing stores from selling cannabis without a prescription. The new regulations restrict cannabis use solely to medical purposes, essentially reclassifying the plant as a controlled herb. The move also marks the end of the country’s three-year experiment with recreational…
