Thailand Threatens to Re-criminalise Cannabis Amid Global Smuggling Surge

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned on Sunday that Thailand could re-criminalise cannabis if the stalled Cannabis Bill does not curb misuse. He said the country must “reassess our approach” and is prepared to “shut down” the industry if it proves more harmful, adding that Thailand must avoid being seen as a “weak link” in global drug smuggling.

South China Morning Post

Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022 as a medicinal crop. Dispensaries proliferated, selling high-potency strains for recreation. In 2023 the government required licences for shops and a medical-need certificate for buyers; hundreds of outlets have closed. The pending Cannabis Bill leaves growers and retailers without clear rules.

South China Morning Post

German customs seized two containers totalling 1.2 tonnes, valued at US$13 million. Indonesian police confiscated 37 tonnes destined for vape products in Jakarta and Bali. Hong Kong customs stopped 13 kg and 10 kg shipments arriving via Jakarta. Domestic penalties now include fines of 30,000 baht (?US$900) per kilogram and possible jail.

South China Morning Post

German, Indonesian and Hong Kong customs confirmed the seizures and noted maritime and air routes for bulk export. The UK embassy in Thailand reiterated its advisory urging British citizens not to transport cannabis or act as couriers abroad. Thai officials signalled the pending Cannabis Bill will tighten licensing and export controls, though no timetable has been disclosed.

South China Morning Post

Growers report a collapse in farm-gate prices. A northeastern cultivator, “Noi,” said only large plantations with medicinal contracts or illegal exporters can now profit. She noted prices fell from over 10,000 baht per kilogram to half that, prompting her exit. Critics argue weak regulation has let criminal networks dominate overseas shipments, undermining the original medicinal purpose.

South China Morning Post

Sources agree on seizure scale but differ on the exact weight intercepted in Indonesia. The Cannabis Bill’s status and content remain unclear, leaving a gap in how future regulations will address both domestic misuse and international trafficking.

South China Morning Post

• “No matter how strict our measures are, if people can still smuggle drugs out, we need to go back and reassess our approach,” — Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand

South China Morning Post

• “We need to figure out what we should do to prevent other countries from blaming Thailand as being the weak link in this problem,” — Anutin Charnvirakul

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• “We need to make it illegal again. If it had just stayed underground where it used to be, it wouldn’t have gotten this messy,” — Noi, cannabis grower (name changed)

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• “Right now the price has dropped lower than before. It used to be over 10,000 baht per kilo and now it’s down to half that. I’m furious at myself for ever having been fooled into growing it in the first place.” — Noi

South China Morning Post