https://hightimes.com/news/thailand-cannabis-advocates-rally-after-lawsuit-challenges-decriminalization/

 

I really look forward to smoking a kg of that 0.2% THC weed!

It's not going to happen, imo..   For any of us who  lived through the covid time, I can't imagine the Thai financial culture, let alone the government, supporting any steps back on the decriminilization.  

 

For one thing, it's another tourism engine.  At a time when tourism is just starting to achive profitable levels, why would they do anything else to prove themselves unreliable as a destination (remember all the various fits and starts with reopening).  Additionally, Thailand isn't thrilled with the current demographic of their tourist population (even excluding the chinese absence), and wants to attact a higher (no pun intended) percentage of Euro and North American visitors.  So, all of this indicates that the tourism alone would be enough to prevent any flip flopping on the current status.  They might tweak it, as they did with "flowers", but the net effect will likely be minimal.

 

Another strong argument is the economic one.  This industry is finally giving the government some influence on the farm population, which is historically very red shirted.   Combined with the increased agricultural revenue is the economic impact of many small business wholesalers, importer and retailers.  The only economic force lined up agains the status quo is the alcohol industry, and the police (they miss the old black market and the under the table revenue it represents.   So, the government would have to be very short sighted to throw a bunch of vendors, growers and importers back into limbo just to appease the beer companies and the cops.   

 

In the end, I predict some posturing (gotta protect the kids), some zone/classification noise, which will be similar to the approach to prostitution/sex work here, and otherwise a blind eye.

 

Look for gambling next,., my guess 3-5 years