Cannabis tourists are not welcome in Thailand, even though the country has legalized medical and recreational marijuana

Thailand has gone from having the toughest drug laws to one of the most relaxed in the world — but not for tourists

Historically, cannabis has long been part of traditional medicine used in many Asian countries, including Thailand where the tropical weather is perfect for cultivation. It has been used to treat many ailments, from headaches to malaria and dysentery to parasites, digestion and even postpartum pain. During the 1960s, when the United States sent thousands of Americans to military bases in Thailand, local cannabis exploded in popularity because it was potent but cheap.

Unfortunately, in the 1980s, Bangkok was pressured by the US government to get rid of the drugs and wipe out the entire marijuana trade. As of 2003, the Kingdom of Thailand became notorious for its strict drug laws. It was not uncommon for drug smugglers and traffickers to be sentenced to death, sometimes even by firing squad. These were part of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s drug campaign that claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including tourists.

In 2018, Thailand became the first Asian country to legalize medical marijuana.

By June 9, 2022, the export, import, production, possession, and consumption of the plant became legal in the country. They then launched a campaign to give away a million cannabis plants for a day, after ironically discouraging people from getting high with it. Fortunately, drug law reform has also helped about 3,000 people be released from prison after being charged with marijuana.

Cannabis dispensaries and coffee shops have popped up in Bangkok and other tourist destinations across the kingdom. Anyone can grow marijuana right at home once they register with the government through a mobile app. However, commercial producers still need to apply for permits. They also saw an explosion of cannabis-infused products ranging from tea and snacks to soaps, toothpaste and even tea.

That’s exactly what the country needed after taking a big hit during the pandemic.

But Health Minister and architect of the cannabis drug reform laws, Anutin Charnvirakul, said: “Don’t use it and sit at home smiling and don’t get any work done. These things are not our policy,” he said in June. “We erased the stigma, it washes away like removing a tattoo. Don’t let it come back,” he said. Charnivirakul added that the marijuana plants are said to be used to improve health.

The problem is that the Thai government didn’t anticipate the massive widespread use of cannabis. Tourists can now go to a pharmacy and buy edibles or weed freely. While many support the move, some see it as abuse.

According to Charnvirakul, who has been trying to phase out recreational marijuana smoking, people caught smoking in public can be fined $704 and risk 90 days in jail, reports VOA News. “Problems arise because of cannabis abuse. This is not the aim of liberalizing the use of the facility. We want to promote medicinal use and increase growers’ income,” he told the press in June 2022.

He also said that tourists smoking weed are not welcome. This is surprising as cannabis tourism could provide a huge boost to the Thai economy, especially now that tourist arrivals are steadily increasing and poised to breathe life back into a tourism-dependent country. Thailand is Asia’s second-largest economy and expects about 8-10 million foreign arrivals this year after a pandemic severely eroded the country’s income.

“We don’t welcome tourists like that,” he said.

Anutin said recreational cannabis use could be explored once they know more about how cannabis works. “It could come in the near future,” he says.

Messy transition

Some critics point out that Thailand’s transition to a more progressive drug law is messy, to say the least. Government officials are saying conflicting things, and the regulatory framework hasn’t been ironed out as well as it should have been from the start.

In fact, last July, new regulations were mailed to police stations stating that cops shouldn’t get high on the job. Now they say tourists can’t come and smoke leisurely, while pre-rolled joints, fresh flowers and edibles are rife on the streets. Nor does it make sense to restrict lighting for tourists, as even the locals, who are benefiting from the fast-growing cannabis industry, are already seeing that marijuana and tourism are a match made in heaven.

Hopefully the government will iron out the many legal gray areas soon. According to the University of Thailand Chamber of Commerce, the cannabis market has the potential to grow to $1.2 billion by 2025, with numerous business opportunities for small growers and businesses. Given Thailand’s excellent growing conditions and the fact that it is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, the potential could soon be virtually limitless. It is also a premier medical tourism destination as it is known for its quality healthcare and affordable treatment.

Regardless, it’s become clear that the marijuana market in Asia is primed for serious growth. Perhaps other countries in the region will soon follow suit and help break the stigma that has plagued Asian countries for far too long. It doesn’t benefit anyone — patients, people, farmers, and economies can all benefit from legal marijuana.

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