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Cannabis flowers. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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Natalie Green, TPO Wellness Co. Ltd. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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Chanaya van Zelst, Suay BC Co. Ltd. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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Jon Dang, Diamond Trichome Co. Ltd. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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Jordan Herring reads his future in a “crystal ball”. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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Sarayut Asavaviradej, Marijua Co. Ltd. Photo credit: Thomas Schmid
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When Thailand basically overnight legalized cannabis in June 2021, it was nothing short of a “bonanza for all”. Initially, there were no guidelines, no regulations to speak of, and while some rudimentary laws were later put in place, authorities were often unsure how to handle an industry that began mushrooming everywhere in the country. The Thai government is presently working on a more concise Cannabis Act that should help smoothen out those teething problems. Or will it? While it was announced that this new regulatory framework could well pass into law sometime during the second quarter of 2025, it is still more likely that there is going to be a delay. In the meantime, nobody is really too sure what to expect. It is a situation that has been spinning the rumor mill for months, with some parties even fearing that the government will make cannabis illegal again altogether. Tobacco Asia conducted exclusive interviews with selected stakeholders, asking them about their concerns but also their hopes regarding the looming new act.
Natalie Green, sales representative, TPO Wellness Co. Ltd., Bangkok
TPO Wellness markets “Auntie Aloha” branded cannabis gummies as its main product. Although much of the merchandise is imported from the US, a growing portion of it also is manufactured locally, exclusively using Thai-grown cannabis in its formulation.
“I heard the news that the government is working on a new Cannabis Act. But I would say that right now they support cannabis, so they won’t put it under a complete ban again. Rather, I think they are going to regulate it more sensibly. Cannabis presently is legalized in Thailand, but there are no clear laws, no rules. Anybody can do whatever they want. We even have business operators who lack the right knowledge to tell their customers about the particularities of the products they sell to them. There already are some rules, like not selling to under-18s or pregnant women, but they are too basic and must be enforced more effectively. It should not be a free bonanza for all, because it will lend Thailand’s cannabis industry a bad image. We don’t want that to happen. We want people to see cannabis as something that has health benefits. I think the Cannabis Act will focus more on medical cannabis use rather than recreational use, like consuming cannabis for better sleep or to help relieve muscle pain or depression. But still, I do not want to see a total ban on recreational use. At the moment, it’s all just speculation and there are rumors circulating everywhere. But nobody really knows for sure what the government is planning for the upcoming regulations.”
Chanaya van Zelst, sales manager, Suay BC Co. Ltd., Phuket
The company, co-owned by an Australian, a Canadian, and a Thai national, operates a cannabis dispensary on Thailand’s popular tourism island of Phuket.
“We started the shop in the summer of 2023, building our business from scratch. The three co-owners all have ample experience in the cannabis sector. We care a lot about the cultivation, the beauty, and benefits of cannabis flowers. The impending new Cannabis Act is a big concern for us. I feel it would not be in everybody’s best interest to go in the direction of recriminalizing cannabis again. I feel that a lot [of business] in Thailand has been built on legalized cannabis, [with so much] money spent and a big boost for the economy. However, I do agree that we should have more regulations on the selling side, on who is allowed to sell or not and what chemicals are allowed [in cannabis growing] and such. Cannabis also is a big boon for tourism as people come all the way to Thailand. They don’t come for the cannabis alone, of course, but rather it’s an add-on attraction factor. And restricting the legality to medical cannabis only won’t be a solution either. I hope the Thai government will do the right thing and not recriminalize it, but regulate it better, especially in the growing sector. We want to make sure that everybody’s smoking clean and safe cannabis. Alcohol and tobacco are much worse for one’s health [than cannabis] if abused.”
Jon Dang, founder & co-owner, Diamond Trichome Co. Ltd., Bangkok
Diamond Trichome operates two cannabis farms located in Bangkok suburbs and was co-founded by Malaysian national Jonathan Dang together with Thai partners.
“My concern is that [the government] might revoke some of the [growing] licenses or that they might make [cannabis] medical only, and recriminalize recreational use. That would hurt a lot of people who, just like me, have invested millions in this industry. It wouldn’t be fair to invite investors, only to then destroy their businesses. Also, recreational use should remain legal, though it is okay to regulate it to ensure that dispensed products maintain certain quality standards. We have a lot of tourists that go to Thailand. They want to consume, they want to smoke, they want to party, they want to use [cannabis] for medical purposes also. We want safe, good, clean product for those consumers. The government should rely on producers like us to supply good quality product, but should of course set up regulations to control that quality. Probably about 70% of our product turnover is for recreational use, and about 30% for medical purposes.”
Jordan Herring, founder, c.e.o & director of Cultivation, Hidden Valley Genetics Co. Ltd., Samut Prakarn
Hidden Valley Genetics closely cooperates with Thai government agencies in developing new cannabis strains mostly for medical purposes and formulating standards to make cannabis products safe. But, the firm also markets its own recreational cannabis strains.
“My number one concern is testing. There are [growers] out here spraying pesticides that are harmful to people. They are also using plant growth regulators [PGRs] that contain heavy metals that subsequently may end up in consumers who think that they are getting medicine. So, yeah, there’re guys out there and they’re spraying pesticides or fungicides on the plants and they’re doing it late in flower. So, broadly speaking, I welcome regulations that can prevent this sort of thing. It doesn’t help if you have a nice joint and die of DDT poisoning, right?
But concerning a recriminalization of recreational use, I see a less than 1% chance of that happening. Firstly, a couple of months ago, there was a meeting between Thailand’s current prime minister [Paethongtarn Shinawatra] and Anutin Chanvirakul [a former public health minister and the driving force behind cannabis legalization in June 2021]. And they came out and said [to the press] that Thailand will not be putting cannabis back on the prohibited narcotics list. Number two, I believe that Thailand let way too much foreign capital come into the country, as well as foreign businessmen that came here to engage in the cannabis sector. And I think that a lot of them would be very upset [if Thailand recriminalized cannabis), possibly even fighting court battles against the government.
There’s too much money tied up in the industry now, as well as economic value and too many jobs are at stake to do a backtrack. Yes, there also are political parties in the coalition government that are very outspokenly in favor of making Thailand cannabis-free again. But everything I hear [from my sources] is that this will not happen. Let’s be real. Thailand likes seeing its tax dollars [that the cannabis sector is generating]. Panicking about the upcoming new law is unwarranted, in my opinion. You only should panic if you are already doing something wrong at this time. But if you get your stuff right and produce according to good quality standards, you shouldn’t be too much worried about [the new law].”
Sarayut Asavaviradej, owner, Marijua Co. Ltd., Bangkok
The company operates two retail locations in Bangkok, one in the city center, another in a suburb.
“I think the law is going to be released by the second quarter [of 2025], but it most likely will be impossible for the government to backtrack completely. They cannot just make cannabis illegal again. Almost 100,000 licenses have been issued to cannabis industry operators in all sectors. If they shut down the industry, countless people will be ruined. We also have a lot of farms that cannot just stop operating overnight and destroy their crops. In addition, there are a lot of support businesses, such as grow light companies and processing plants. The main problem that the new law should tackle is the many farms that are run by foreigners and who use locals as nominees. That’s a big problem, because the profits don’t stay in Thailand but go abroad.
I also see an issue with distinguishing between medical and recreational cannabis. How do you determine what is recreational and what is medical? The definition of medical cannabis is very tricky. Because even if you smoke cannabis recreationally, it still may have a medical effect or health benefit. So where do you draw the line of what is recreational and what is medical? If the government forces consumers to obtain a medical card for purchasing cannabis, it will shut down everything. Or if consumers require a medical prescription, 70% of the shops will close down.
There even was the crazy suggestion that a medical doctor must be onsite in every shop at any time to issue prescriptions. Thailand doesn’t even have enough medical practitioners to staff every shop. And a suggestion like that would open the door to corruption, too. Some doctors may register with multiple shops, even dozens, and collect service fees from each of them without actually being physically present. And the police are going to turn a blind eye in exchange for tea money for not reporting a shop that has no doctor onsite.
The best way to go forward for the new law is to make cannabis inaccessible to kids and students and only allow consumers to smoke in the shop itself. And the shop itself will provide a safe environment, a well-ventilated room or something, where people can sit down and relax and enjoy their purchase.”
Supischa Sangthong, general manager, Stealth Garden (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Bangkok
Stealth Garden is a well-known US brand of plant nutrients and fertilizers developed especially for cannabis cultivation. The company has had a presence in Thailand for several years now.
“Of course I have heard many rumors that the new law will make recreational cannabis illegal again and that the licenses of recreational cannabis farms will be revoked. If that should turn out to be true, it will affect our business for sure, because our fertilizer products are primarily marketed to cannabis farms, to a much lesser degree also to home growers. Most of our clients grow cannabis for medical purposes, but there also are those who dedicate portions of their plots to recreational cannabis, or those who focus their entire production on recreational. Having said that, I am less worried about some existing farms losing their licenses or certifications, but am more concerned that obtaining new licenses could become much more difficult under the upcoming regulations. That could stunt our business growth.
But then again, even if such a law comes out, it will take time to implement it. Also, I think we Thai people have a reputation for always finding a way to circumvent laws [laughs]. In the end, I don’t think the Thai government will put up too many restrictions, because they cannot afford to. All the investments, both local and foreign, it all would go down the drain. And who is going to compensate for that? It’s impossible to strop everything in its tracks just like that. Also, the export business is shaping up, with inquiries from Europe. There is just so much at stake.”