Is weed still legal in Thailand? Here’s what tourists need to know as government u-turns

Hundreds of pro-cannabis advocates took to Bangkok's streets on Monday to protest a possible ban on general use.

The Thai government floated plans to relist the plant as a narcotic, two years after it was decriminalised, earlier this year.

On Friday, a health ministry drug control committee approved the proposal, which would see cannabis only allowed for medical and research purposes.

The proposition is set to be submitted to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board this week, and if agreed on, will take effect on 1 January 2025.

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022 for medical purposes, but in practice the market appears virtually unregulated, leading to public backlash and concerns over misuse and crime.

Neon weed signs have become ubiquitous in Bangkok’s busy tourist areas, with dispensaries cropping up on every corner. Hundreds of food and drink vendors advertise cannabis-infused menus.

This could all change under the PM's proposals to strictly regulate marijuana use and restrict it for medicinal purposes.

Following the general election in May last year, Thailand has been under new leadership since September.

The conservative coalition government headed by the Pheu Thai Party is behind the calls for a crackdown on cannabis, which has been poorly regulated since its legalisation.

Pheu Thai campaigned on banning the recreational use of marijuana, saying it poses health risks and could cause substance abuse issues among young people.

In a post on X calling for the plant to be relisted earlier this year, Thavisin reiterated this stance, saying "Drugs are a problem that destroys the future of the nation."

Anutin Charnvirakul, the former Health Minister who oversaw the drug’s legalisation in