Cannabis News

Thailand cannabis news, legalization 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.

  • Sponsored

    How to access the best hospitals in Thailand without overpaying

    Thailand offers high-quality healthcare, attracting many expats and medical tourists. The country has both public and private hospitals, with private facilities known for advanced treatments, shorter wait times, and personalised care. However, private healthcare can be expensive. To get the...

  • Hazy highway: Foreign duo sparks backlash for road trip cannabis cruise in Sukhumvit, Bangkok

    Hazy highway: Foreign duo sparks backlash for road trip cannabis cruise in Sukhumvit, Bangkok

    Two foreign men faced criticism from Thai netizens after a video of them smoking cannabis on a motorcycle on a road in the Sukhumvit neighbourhood of Bangkok went viral on social media. The Twitter account, Red Skull, shared a video of the two foreigners yesterday, November 26. They were reportedly riding in Soi Sukhumvit 23 near the popular entertainment venue,…

  • Thailand’s Public Health Ministry finalises Cannabis-Hemp Act draft

    Thailand’s Public Health Ministry finalises Cannabis-Hemp Act draft

    The Cannabis-Hemp Act‘s first draft has been completed by the Public Health Ministry, and despite public speculation, cannabis will not be reclassified as a narcotic. According to Public Health Minister Chonlanan Srikaew, the new legislation is a refined version of the initial draft, now streamlined from 94 to approximately 70 sections. The updated version addresses public concerns and closes loopholes…

  • High controversy: Thai police in pot predicament as video of bong-smoking officer goes viral (video)

    High controversy: Thai police in pot predicament as video of bong-smoking officer goes viral (video)

    The Royal Thai Police (RTP) is under fire after a viral video showed a police officer in uniform smoking ganja from a bong. It was later revealed the RTP officer suffers from mental health problems. The drama erupted on Thai social media after the popular Facebook page, Eight-pointed Star (ดาวแปดแฉก), shared a video of the police officer behaving inappropriately by…

  • Pot predicament: Thai mum blames foreign neighbours’ toke trouble for son’s illness

    Pot predicament: Thai mum blames foreign neighbours’ toke trouble for son’s illness

    A Thai woman took to social media to demand responsibility from her foreign neighbours after their personal cannabis use allegedly caused her son’s illness. The woman, Arpapan Jaiman, posted on Facebook on November 2 that a foreigner had just rented a room within her condominium in the northern province of Chaing Mai. Arpapan accused the foreigner and his friends of smoking cannabis…

  • Thai Prime Minister Srettha rolls up changes: Strict revisions ahead for cannabis laws

    Thai Prime Minister Srettha rolls up changes: Strict revisions ahead for cannabis laws

    The Prime Minister of Thailand announced plans to revise the nation’s cannabis law and put an end to the free use of cannabis. PM Srettha Thavisin emphasized that cannabis should be used only for medical purposes. As Thailand was the first country in Asia to remove cannabis from its list of illegal narcotics last year, Bloomberg interviewed Thai PM Srettha about…

  • Cannabis bill to be reviewed, focusing on medical use only

    Cannabis bill to be reviewed, focusing on medical use only

    Cannabis will come under scrutiny as new Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew announced the formation of a committee to analyse a bill to regulate the plant. The primary objective, he insisted yesterday, is to ensure the use of cannabis remains strictly within the medical and health realm, prohibiting any recreational use. The cannabis and hemp bill, sponsored by the Bhumjaithai…

  • Thai PM extinguishes ‘high’ hopes for recreational cannabis, prioritises medicinal path

    Thai PM extinguishes ‘high’ hopes for recreational cannabis, prioritises medicinal path

    Disagreeing with the notion of recreational cannabis use, the Prime Minister of Thailand indicated that his administration would instead continue to focus on the medicinal usage of the plant. Thai PM Srettha Thavisin, who additionally performs the role of the nation’s Finance Minister, shared his stance with the media today, Friday, September 15. Despite this, the cannabis industry in Thailand…

  • Supreme court dismisses cannabis case against former Health Minister Anutin

    Supreme court dismisses cannabis case against former Health Minister Anutin

    The Supreme Administrative Court has put an end to a lawsuit targeting the former Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul over his legalisation of cannabis. The plaintiffs, who took legal action against the former minister, have been categorically defined as not being direct victims of the legalisation of cannabis, hence their case has been dismissed. This news follows in the…

  • Thai network petitions for home-grown cannabis and 5-year import ban

    Thai network petitions for home-grown cannabis and 5-year import ban

    The Cannabis Future Network in Thailand is gathering signatures for a petition, aiming to accumulate 10,000 names to urge parliament to continue its reading of the Cannabis-Hemp Act. This legislation, if passed, would permit citizens to cultivate marijuana at home and prohibit the importation of cannabis products for half a decade. Prasitchai Nunual, the head of the network, yesterday stated…

  • Phuket authorities takes action against 13 illegal cannabis shops

    Phuket authorities takes action against 13 illegal cannabis shops

    A crackdown is underway in Phuket, where legal proceedings have been initiated against 13 illegal cannabis shops operating without proper licensing. The local health authority, under the direction of Chief Doctor Kusak Kookietikun of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, confirmed the actions on Monday. The majority of these unlicensed shops, nine in total, are located in Kathu. Meanwhile, Mueang…

  • Cannabis shop inspections urged by Phuket health officials

    Cannabis shop inspections urged by Phuket health officials

    Health officials in Phuket are set to conduct weekly random inspections of cannabis shops and venues across the island, as announced by the Chief of Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), Dr Kusak Kukkiattikoon. The move is part of a campaign aimed at regulating the island’s overwhelming cannabis industry. The primary objective of the cannabis shop inspections is to ensure…

  • Smokin’ apology: American recreates Ghostbusters scene with cannabis fogging on Bangla Road, Phuket (video)

    Smokin’ apology: American recreates Ghostbusters scene with cannabis fogging on Bangla Road, Phuket (video)

    An American man issued an apology after he committed a legal violation by using ganja in a public place on Bangla Road in Phuket, reminiscent of a scene from Ghostbusters. The man was captured on video releasing cannabis smoke from a fogging machine. In a viral video, a man wearing a black balaclava to conceal his face and his group of friends…

  • First-Ever GREEN COMEDY Night at Izumo Green: A dazzling blend of comedy and culture

    First-Ever GREEN COMEDY Night at Izumo Green: A dazzling blend of comedy and culture

    This Saturday, July 1st, Izumo Green and the Comedy Club Bangkok, in collaboration with The Thaiger present the first-ever ‘GREEN COMEDY’ night. Join a night of laughs, ‘influence’, and an after-party with an international line-up of Bangkok’s finest local stand-up comedians. Hosted by The Thaiger’s Alex Latour, the night will leave you with plenty to talk about as you mingle…

  • Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network warns parties against reinstating plant as narcotic

    Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network warns parties against reinstating plant as narcotic

    The Cannabis Future Network in Thailand has called upon three alliance parties not to reinstate cannabis as a narcotic drug, referring to the decision as “getting the first shirt button wrong” and potentially leading to further issues. The network leader, Prasitchai Nunual, expressed his concerns on their Facebook fan page, stating that the ad-hoc committee responsible for discussing the removal…

  • Future Thailand PM at odds with cannabis sellers and government over drug law reform

    Future Thailand PM at odds with cannabis sellers and government over drug law reform

    Cannabis sellers and several governmental departments have clashed with future Prime Minister, Pita Limcharoenrat, and his Move Forward Party (MFP) over the reclassification of cannabis and the reversal of the drug laws. The sellers are demanding clear clarification from the concerned departments on this issue. On Monday, May 22, the MFP, led by Pita, and leaders of the coalition parties…

  • Cannabis shop near top school suspended amid licence scrutiny

    Cannabis shop near top school suspended amid licence scrutiny

    A cannabis shop near the prestigious St Joseph Convent School on Silom Road has had its licence suspended for one month by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). The dispensary had been operating for six months before receiving criticism due to its proximity to the all-girls school. DTAM’s director-general, Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, revealed that the suspension was a…

  • Thai cannabis vendors call out illegal importation practices

    Thai cannabis vendors call out illegal importation practices

    Thailand is known for its glittering beaches, bustling street food scene, expert Muay Thai fights, and full moon parties. But now it’s known for something that no one could have expected just a few short years ago – becoming the world’s home of the happy herb, marijuana. It’s been less than a year since Thailand decriminalised the growing of marijuana…

  • Experts unite to oppose govt’s cannabis legalisation

    Experts unite to oppose govt’s cannabis legalisation

    A collective of medical professionals, academics, and civil organisations have released yet another open letter to express their opposition to the government’s decision to legalise cannabis. This marks their seventh open letter on the matter, urging the public to vote for political parties that do not support the removal of cannabis from the list of narcotics, as well as its…

  • Khao San’s ‘420’ celebrations cancelled

    Khao San’s ‘420’ celebrations cancelled

    The 420 cannabis celebrations planned for Khao San Road were cancelled following criticism that the event would breach Thailand’s laws that prohibit smoking cannabis in public places. A local group of vendors intended to organise the Cannabis Day Showcase event with a parade along the street, as cannabis has been removed from the narcotics list. However, the event was met…

  • Thailand warns against public cannabis use, imposes fines and jail time

    Thailand warns against public cannabis use, imposes fines and jail time

    The Department of Health (DOH) under the Ministry of Public Health has issued a stern warning to the public about the legal ramifications of smoking cannabis in public spaces. The DOH has also notified local authorities to prepare for stricter enforcement against unsubstantiated casual events. Additionally, the public is encouraged to report any nuisance incidents to local officials immediately. Dr.…

  • Growing cannabis in Thailand? Never grow alone with Growland Dispensary and Grow Shop

    Growing cannabis in Thailand? Never grow alone with Growland Dispensary and Grow Shop

    For any cannabis lover living in or visiting Phuket, Growland Dispensary and Grow Shop on Patak Road is too hard to miss. They’re Phuket’s leading provider of premium flower strains, clones, and edibles. But Growland is more than just a dispensary; it is also a grow shop. For amateur or expert growers, they have all the gear and accessories you…

  • Foreigner deported from China for using cannabis in Thailand

    Foreigner deported from China for using cannabis in Thailand

    A foreigner of unknown nationality was allegedly deported from Shanghai, China, for testing positive for cannabis upon returning from Thailand, where marijuana is legal, according to That’sMag. Getting high is normal in Thailand since cannabis was decriminalised almost a year ago. But China doesn’t share Thailand’s liberal stance on the psychoactive plant. According to the British Consulate-General Shanghai… “Police drug…

  • Thai man sets ‘high’ score for fastest joint roller at Phuket’s Cannabis Cup

    Thai man sets ‘high’ score for fastest joint roller at Phuket’s Cannabis Cup

    As cannabis remains one of the nation’s hottest political issues in Thailand prior to the election in May, one Thai man won 5,000 baht for rolling a perfect one-gramme joint in just 43 seconds at the first-ever Cannabis Cup in Phuket on Saturday, reports Reuters. Hailed the fastest joint roller in all of Phuket, 30 year old Phuketian Ativat Janmuangthai won…

  • Democrat Party announces anti-cannabis campaign platform

    Democrat Party announces anti-cannabis campaign platform

    While nearly every street corner in tourist areas of Thailand is selling cannabis legally now (a recent driver in Samui spotted nine shops in a two-block stretch), not everyone is in favour of it, especially politicians. Politicians believe the rushed legalisation and subsequent free-for-all is a strong talking point against the Bhumjaithai Party, who pushed for decriminalisation. Now, the Democrat…

  • Amsterdam institutes red light cannabis ban

    Amsterdam institutes red light cannabis ban

    While Thailand has turned into a cannabis-free-for-all, some have warned that legalisation leads to a destructive path to crime and degeneration. Those defending legislation have pointed to places where cannabis has been legal for years without becoming Sodom & Gomorrah, like some US states and, famously, Amsterdam. But now authorities in Amsterdam have announced plans to ban street smoking of…

  • Nepali man caught smuggling 5.6 kilograms of hashish into Thailand

    Nepali man caught smuggling 5.6 kilograms of hashish into Thailand

    A Nepali man was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday after customs found 5.6 kilograms of hashish hidden in his luggage with an estimated value of 560,000 baht. At 6.45pm, airport customs officials inspected a suitcase belonging to a man flying in from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. As the unnamed Nepali national passed through with nothing to declare, customs…

  • Cannabis in Thailand: A Guide for Tourists

    Cannabis in Thailand: A Guide for Tourists

    Thailand’s crazy cannabis laws can be difficult to navigate so the Ministry of Public Health has issued a guide titled “10 Things Tourists Need to Know About Cannabis in Thailand” to help budding cannabis tourists stay out of trouble. Since the marijuana plant (“Gancha” in Thai language) was removed from Thailand’s list of Category 5 Narcotics on June 9 this…

  • Thailand to track cannabis users in government database

    Thailand to track cannabis users in government database

    Thai nationals will soon be required to show their ID cards when purchasing cannabis flowers. The ID and sales information will be entered into a government database, according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). Registered vendors will be required to insert the buyers’ ID into a “device” linked with the government system and input information regarding…