Thailand Will Reclassify Cannabis as Narcotic – Ganjapreneur | How to buy Skittles Moonrock online

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.

Based in Portland, Oregon, Graham is Ganjapreneur’s Chief Editor. He has been writing about the legalization landscape since 2012 and has been contributing to Ganjapreneur since our official launch in… More by Graham Abbott