Will Thailand be the next cannabis tourism hotspot?

By Nina Zdinjak

Thailand, the first Asian country to decriminalize recreational cannabis, may soon see a boom in its tourism industry. Many travel industry experts believe that like the marijuana plant, the market will thrive.

After becoming the first Southeast Asian country to legalize medicinal cannabis in 2018, Thailand became the first in Asia to legalize marijuana in January this year. Under the new regulation, residents are allowed to grow cannabis for personal use.

Photo by Mongkol Chuewong/Getty Images

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Still, the guidelines are not entirely clear. It seems that extracts with THC levels higher than 0.2% are banned, but what about smoking weed? Many argue that low THC only applies to extracts, while smoking high THC weed should be legal.

While the gray area around these rules needs official clarification, many hope the relaxation of cannabis regulation will boost medical and wellness tourism, TTG Asia reported.

“Thailand is known as a destination for medical tourism and wellness travel. So these sectors will certainly benefit from the latest developments,” commented Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of S Hotels and Resorts.

Spa and wellness centers seize the opportunity

Scientific researchers have found that cannabis can help with many health problems such as sleeping and appetite problems, stress and fatigue, and much more. Some say the plant can help revitalize the gut and reduce skin inflammation. Given these claims, it’s no wonder numerous wellness brands are keen to capitalize on this new opportunity in Thailand.

For example, luxury spa and wellness center Panpuri Wellness has already launched its holistic cannabis wellness experience, which promises a “soothing journey” from an onsen pool to a sauna room and marijuana-infused food and beverages.

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Another luxury spa, Anantara, offers a variety of cannabis-infused treatments. The spa’s three “journeys” that contain CBD oil include Cannabis Stress-Release, Head to Toe Calming, and Cannabis Stress-Release Journey.

“Interest in the therapeutic benefits of CBD is growing,” said Chunxia Gao, Group Director of Spa & Wellness at MSpa International for the Asia region. “With CBD safety guidelines ensuring product quality, we can only expect great success in CBD-infused products, superfood choices, and CBD spa and wellness experiences.”

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.