A majority of Thais want to reclassify cannabis a drug

Buying and selling cannabis in Thailand. Be aware of shifting policies as the government moves to reclassify it as a drug

The post A majority of Thais want to reclassify cannabis a drug appeared first on Green Prophet.

Even before it was recreationally legal it was easy to find cannabis on the streets of Thailand. Head to a busy Phuket a couple of years ago, and cannabis pre-rolls were as easy to find as a Thai pancake. Last year when we were in Koh Phangan we went on an ATV tour to an organic farm. They offered hydroponically-grown lettuce and organic honey to us, along with jars of cannabis – all for sale.

But what could have been a boost to local and international tourism (it was the Thais from Bangkok who bought the cannabis in the end on our ATV trip) is falling out of favor with the mainstream Thai public.

About 76% of people who took part in a survey in Thailand said they “totally agreed” or “rather agreed” with their leader’s policy u-turn to re-criminalize the plant, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration.

Related: our family trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand

The poll was conducted via phone between May 14 and 15 among 1,310 Thai nationals aged 18 and above. About 23.4% disagreed with the move, while 0.9% declined to answer or said they had no interest in the issue. Thailand’s latest prime minister Srettha Thavisin, nicknamed Nid, is a Thai businessman and politician currently serving as the prime minister of Thailand since 22 August 2023.

The proposed policy reversal is a blow for Thailand’s nascent cannabis industry after decriminalization was pitched as a way to boost agricultural income and the country’s wellness tourism industry.

Related: high tech shisha helps you smoke 100 cigarettes an hour

Srettha has vowed to restrict the use of marijuana to medical purposes. Canada is one of few countries in the world … more