Thailand Moves to Ban Recreational Marijuana With Draft Bill

The Thai government, led by the health minister, announces plans to swiftly introduce a Bill aimed at prohibiting the recreational use of cannabis. This decision comes in response to the decriminalization of the drug in 2022. Despite being removed from the list of banned narcotics last year, concerns over its recreational use prompt this urgent action.

The move prompted hundreds of cannabis dispensaries to sprout around the country, particularly in Bangkok, provoking concern from critics who urged the need for tighter legislation.

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Thai Health Minister: New Bill Prohibiting Recreational Cannabis Use to Be Proposed Next Week

On Tuesday, the kingdom’s health minister said the new Bill – which bans the recreational use of cannabis – will be proposed to the Cabinet meeting next week.

“The new Bill will be amended from the existing one to only allow the use of cannabis for health and medicinal purposes,” Chonlanan Srikaew told reporters. “The use for fun is considered wrong.”

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who took office last August, has frequently voiced his opposition to the recreational use of the drug and said it should only be allowed for medicinal use.

There was fresh pressure from the public last weekend after attendees of British rock band Coldplay’s shows in Bangkok complained on social media saying “the entire concert smelled like marijuana”.

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