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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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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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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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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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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Thai shops face jail over illegal cannabis sweets
Cannabis-laced jelly treats could soon land shop owners behind bars, as Thailand’s government launches a sweeping crackdown to stop potent THC sweets from reaching children’s hands. The government has vowed to intensify its inspection of sweets and drinks containing cannabis extracts, warning that anyone caught selling over-strength products or failing to label them properly could face stiff fines and prison…
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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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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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Thai cannabis dispensaries must become medical clinics to stay legal
Cannabis dispensaries in Thailand will need to transition into medical clinics to operate legally, according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Doctor Somlerk Jeungsmarn, the department’s chief, stated that a draft ministerial regulation is in development to manage the medical use of cannabis, as the government aims to tighten its regulations on the plant. This regulation will…
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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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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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Weed out competition: Thailand’s cannabis shops face crackdown
Thailand’s once-thriving cannabis industry is about to face its biggest shake-up yet, with new regulations that could see up to 12,000 cannabis flower shops shut down by the end of the year. The country’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) revealed a wave of stringent rules that could spell the end for many who have jumped on the…
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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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Khon Kaen cannabis shop raided over young patrons
Police, including the Khon Kaen Provincial Public Health Office, Region 4 Narcotics Control Board, and Mueang Khon Kaen Police, conducted a raid on Thun Kan, a cannabis shop in Khon Kaen province. The raid, yesterday, June 25, uncovered concerning activities involving underage people. Upon entering the shop, officials found a pervasive smell of cannabis. Two groups of young patrons were…
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Thailand’s cannabis crackdown: New rules could kill the green rush
Thailand promised to introduce tough new rules to regulate the sale and use of cannabis products in the country. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed a new regulation yesterday, June 24, which aims to crack down on widespread cannabis sales, restricting usage and access even further. Under the new rules, all cannabis purchases will now require a medical prescription. Consumers…
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Anutin rejects cannabis mishandling claims, opposes casinos
Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul rejected accusations that his party mishandled the cannabis policy, particularly its medical use, and distanced himself from proposals to legalise casinos. Speaking out on the issue, Anutin dismissed the government’s recent plan to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, allowing only medical use, as a reversal of Bhumjaithai’s earlier work, claiming that his party had already…
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Bhumjaithai criticises Pheu Thai for cannabis regulation delays
Bhumjaithai Party senior member Supachai Jaisamut has urged the swift passage of a cannabis control bill, criticising the Pheu Thai Party’s Ministry of Public Health for its perceived inaction in regulating cannabis. This, he claims, has resulted in its widespread availability and associated challenges. Supachai has reiterated that since 2019, the BJT has supported cannabis use solely for medical purposes.…
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Baggage claim! Irish drug mule jailed after 22.5m baht stash found
An Irish woman has been jailed in Norway after being caught red-handed smuggling nearly 30 kilogrammes of cannabis, worth an estimated 600,000 euros (22.5 million baht), from Thailand in two bulging suitcases. Other news outlets reported the stash was 41.7 kilos of weed. Jamie Mahon from Moneymore in Drogheda, Co Louth, was arrested at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport on January 9 this…
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British Onlyfans mum nabbed at Spanish airport with £200k in weed
A British OnlyFans model has swapped lingerie for lockdown after allegedly trying to smuggle over £200,000 (8.82 million baht) worth of cannabis into Spain in her luggage. Clara Wilson, a mum-of-four from Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire, was busted by the Civil Guard at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport on January 20 after stepping off a Qatar Airways flight from Doha. But her real…
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High-flyers grounded: British couple’s cannabis holiday smoked
A British couple’s sun, sea and suitcase full of skunk getaway came crashing down at Valencia Airport after Spanish police found more than 33 kilogrammes of cannabis stuffed in their bags, with not a pair of flip flops or suncream in sight. The pair, who claimed to be tourists flying in from Thailand via France, were nabbed by eagle-eyed officers who…
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Vape and cig racket busted at Pattaya weed shop
A cannabis shop on Pattaya Beach Road has been exposed as a front for selling illegal vapes and foreign cigarettes, with cops seizing hundreds of illicit products in a dramatic police raid. Officers from Pattaya Police, in collaboration with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), swooped on the Dr Weed cannabis store in the heart of the popular resort town, uncovering…
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Dopey striker’s 27 million baht own goal in cannabis smuggle sting
A former Arsenal wonderkid has admitted his part in a plot to smuggle £600,000 (26.4 million baht) worth of cannabis from Thailand to Britain, after luring his girlfriend and her pal into playing unwitting drug mules. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, was nicked after 60 kilogrammes of cannabis was found stuffed inside four suitcases that had just landed at London Stansted Airport from…
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British ambassador issues cannabis warning in Phuket
British tourists lighting up in Thailand have been hit with a harsh reminder—bring cannabis home and you could face serious jail time. During an official visit to Phuket on Monday, April 28, British Ambassador to Thailand Mark Gooding urged Thai officials to continue warning tourists that cannabis remains strictly illegal in the UK. The message was delivered during a meeting…
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