Thailand to Ban Recreational Marijuana by 2024 End

Thailand’s government has decided to ban recreational use of marijuana by the end of 2024. However, the county will continue to allow medical use of marijuana.

Now the Thai government has drafted a new law to regulate cannabis use that is expected to take effect by year-end.

The draft bill will go to cabinet for approval next month before heading to parliament to be passed before the end of the year, Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said.

In 2018, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to allow medicinal use of marijuana. In 2022 recreational use of marijuana was allowed in the country.

With it, thousands of cannabis shops have opened up in Thailand and their net worth is projected to be up to $1.2 billion by 2025. According to official figures, there are 20,000 legally registered marijuana shops in Thailand. The unregistered shops are also in the thousands.

The new law curbing the recreational use of cannabis will discourage home-grown cannabis.  will also be discouraged, added Cholnan, who put the number of legally registered shops at 20,000.

The draft law specifies a fine of up to 60,000 baht ($1,700) for recreational use, while those selling cannabis for such use and participating in the advertisement or marketing of buds, resin, extract or smoking devices face jail terms of up to a year, or a fine of up to 100,000 baht ($2,800) or both.

It also toughens punishment for cannabis farming without a licence, with jail terms ranging from one to three years and fines from 20,000 baht ($560) to 300,000 baht ($8,000).