Thai government moves to tighten cannabis rules and raise penalties
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced plans to tighten cannabis regulations, introduce harsher punishments and separate medical use from recreation.
Thailand is set to tighten its cannabis framework after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presented new amendments to the Narcotics Act at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board meeting. The proposals call for stricter penalties, tighter oversight of licensed businesses and the possibility of revoking licences for breaches. The Ministry of Public Health and related agencies have been ordered to conduct inspections, and the Customs Department will boost intelligence and random checks to curb illegal export of cannabis stems, leaves and buds, while CBD extracts may still be shipped under FDA licensing.
The changes follow a 2022 decriminalisation that led to rapid growth of cannabis enterprises and concerns over recreational use. The cabinet previously approved a draft Cannabis and Hemp Act to limit cannabis to medical purposes. In parallel, the National Security Council is coordinating a unified strategy for security in Thailand's southern border provinces.
Why it matters
The policy shift could reshape Thailand's burgeoning cannabis industry and affect public health and law-enforcement priorities.
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