Thailand Will Reclassify Cannabis as Narcotic

Government officials in Thailand have decided to re-prohibit cannabis after
decriminalizing the plant three years ago, threatening the $1 billion
industry that has blossomed since the reforms, Reuters reports.

Thailand was the first country in Asia to adopt significant cannabis
reforms; critics of the decriminalization policy, however, have argued that
the industry was left under-regulated. Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin
signed the order on Monday, and the new policy will prohibit the sale of
cannabis products to customers without a medical prescription.

“Cannabis will be classified as a narcotic in the future.” — Somsak, in a
statement

The rule change is set to take effect after appearing in the Royal Gazette,
the report said.

A 2024 opinion survey by Thailand’s National Institute of Development
Administration found that 75% of Thais supported the government’s proposal
to relist cannabis as an illegal drug.

The policy change has been a stated priority of the ruling Pheu Thai Party
— which previously had vowed to recriminalize the drug — but its members
were held back by their former coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party,
the Associated Press reports. The Bhumjaithai Party recently exited the
coalition, however, amid fallout from a leaked phone call between Prime
Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and a former leader of Cambodia.