Marijuana law in Thailand after 2 years of legalization
A move years in the making and a rarity in a region where marijuana possession, consumption, and trafficking are punishable by long jail terms and even death sentences, Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis in June 2022. Despite Thailand's legalization of medical marijuana in 2018, decriminalization took it a step further. This made it no longer a crime to grow, trade, or use marijuana or hemp products for medical purposes. The law is flexible from region to region, but ultimately allows people to grow and trade marijuana openly. Thailand has seen the opening of thousands of cannabis dispensaries since then. In addition, it has seen the opening of cannabis-themed businesses such as weed cafes, hemp spas, and beauty treatments. Decriminalization of marijuana has been a major draw for tourists in cities like Chiang Mai and Bangkok. However, Anutin Charnvirakul, former Thai health minister and strong advocate of cannabis legalization, has said that Th...