Cannabis Shops to Close by April 1, 2025: Thai PM Orders Drug Rescheduling

[webfact]

 

In a pivotal meeting attended by the Prime Minister and three senior ministers, PM Srettha Thavisin announced that cannabis shops in Thailand are to be shut down by April 1, 2025.

 

He has called for the reclassification of cannabis as a scheduled narcotic substance by the end of 2024. This comes as part of a larger strategy to clamp down on drug usage in Thailand.

 

The Prime Minister has advocated for stricter police action and treatment measures for drug addicts.

 

Thavisin earlier expressed strong opposition to cannabis liberalisation in an interview with France 24. His remarks alarmed then Minister of Public Health Cholnan Srikaew, who questioned whether the PM’s views were in line with government policy. This disagreement may have led to Cholnan's subsequent removal from the cabinet. 

 

The planned reclassification of marijuana will likely unsettle the burgeoning cannabis industry, as it effectively nullifies the 2022 statute proposed by former Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

 

The law had exempted police from criminal proceedings related to marijuana. Thavisin’s proposed changes would permit action against individuals selling and using cannabis. 

 

In a recent development, newly appointed Minister of Public Health Somsak suggested public consultation on the matter, while a bill is being drafted to regulate marijuana use as a non-scheduled substance.

 

However, any confusion or ambiguity in drug regulation is exactly what Srettha wants to avoid. He sees the cannabis trade as a threat to the country and argues that it brings more economic negatives than positives.

 

TOP File photo for reference only courtesy of Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-05-09

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[gk10012001]

have barely smelled the stuff since the 70s.  But as I coast into retirement I am not against trying it a bit at my ripe old age of 68.  In the USA so many people have prescriptions for it, albeit legit and needed or not.  I was wondering if a girl I know that does use it would be able to buy and use some while in thailand, with or without her "legal" prescription

[Robert Paulson]

Reminds me of a Thai woman. Decide on something then the next minute change your mind. Why because the facts changed? No just because 

[redwood1]

If the government wants the weed shops closed they all must revive compensation..

 

But whats really going to happen is..

 

 

The weed shops will be told they are still free to sell legal weed with .02 THC or less........lol

 

I am sure no one will have a problem with paying 100-200 baht a gram for dirt weed...

 

Thousands of weed shop owners will be left in serious debt and bankrupt..

 

 

[stoner]

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

He sees the cannabis trade as a threat to the country and argues that it brings more economic negatives than positives.

 

garbage. 

 

 

[realfunster]

18 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

If the government wants the weed shops closed they all must revive compensation..

 

But whats really going to happen is..

 

 

The weed shops will be told they are still free to sell legal weed with .02 THC or less........lol

 

I am sure no one will have a problem with paying 100-200 baht a gram for dirt weed...

 

Thousands of weed shop owners will be left in serious debt and bankrupt..

 

 

If they enact this through parliament, I would be expecting class action lawsuits.

 

Hard to say how those would play out but it would certainly create negativity about the investment climate and regulatory stability in Thailand.

 

Whilst some of the shops looks expensively fitted out, I am also aware that companies have set up growing facilities here in Thailand, those investments will be of a higher magnitude I’m sure. I don’t know if these would be included in the government’s proposal. 

[stoner]

17 minutes ago, realfunster said:

 

Whilst some of the shops looks expensively fitted out, I am also aware that companies have set up growing facilities here in Thailand, those investments will be of a higher magnitude I’m sure. I don’t know if these would be included in the government’s proposal.

 

farms will have to meet government standards for growing. if you don't have a proper company. pay your taxes. acquire and/or have needed licenses. government approved facilities with sop and what not.  bu bye if you don't

 

etc etc. 

 

fly by night grows and transactions will go straight back to the black market. many others will simply close and take the loss. 

 

black market demand will soar and the medical program will be totally abused by both patients and companies. companies will charge insane money for doctors appointments and products. 

 

i have chronic headaches...here's your script and head to our store next door to get your medicine. 

 

think the same scenario of passing a medical for a thai drivers license. with thai traditional allowed in the mix too. it will be worse than it is now. 

 

i love it. watched the same kind of scenario play out in canada. big companies with connected people all gobbling up the market.

 

  

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

Why is it so difficult to find a sensible solution?

How about: Don't sell it in the open and don't advertise it. Because the idea should not be to promote any kind of drug use. That is why we don't have advertisement for alcohol and cigarettes.

Sell it like cigarettes or maybe in pharmacies, could that be a reasonable compromise?

 

But then, nothing here is decided based on facts and logic. It's just decided. 

Sad.

[Pique Dard]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

...cannabis shops in Thailand are to be shut down by April 1, 2025.

 ...so the government thinks thais will smoke less...cannabis? good luck!

[ChipButty]

There will be a lot of unhappy landlords, 

[bamnutsak]

The PM is launching a war on drugs, which everyone knows cannot be "won", and sees "action" on cannabis as something easily accomplished.

 

Making such a bold announcement, with firm dates and after a single "meeting", leaves little room for face-saving.

 

Unless he's replaced, this seems like a done deal, unfortunately.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The law had exempted police from criminal proceedings related to marijuana. Thavisin’s proposed changes would permit action against individuals selling and using cannabis. 

 

 

Police "income" set to rise substantially. And Parliament will have to budget for more prisons.

 

 

 

[Danderman123]

So, how many here believe that weed shops will really close on April 1, 2025?

[zzzzz]

41 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

The PM is launching a war on drugs, which everyone knows cannot be "won", and sees "action" on cannabis as something easily accomplished.

 

Making such a bold announcement, with firm dates and after a single "meeting", leaves little room for face-saving.

 

Unless he's replaced, this seems like a done deal, unfortunately.

Police "income" set to rise substantially. And Parliament will have to budget for more prisons.

 

maybe not win BUT he surely can close down all the dispensaries in the country
it will than be required to have a Medical card, ( got mine already :-)) to buy

Also since it became legal, i have never brought 1 gram from a shop ( ONLY tourists buy there) when i can buy it online for 1/10 or less, the price!!
 

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

There will be a lot of unhappy landlords, 

There will be a lot of unhappy tenants.  Flip FLOP.

[Callmeishmael]

The words may be coming out of Srettha's mouth, but that's Thaksin speaking!  This is 'war on drugs' 2.0.

 

It seems that major decisions in Thailand always come from the Cabinet.  What exactly does Parliament do?

[bamnutsak]

1 minute ago, zzzzz said:

it will than be required to have a Medical card, ( got mine already :-)) to buy

 

Can you share any details on your medical card?

 

What medical conditions do you have? When did you buy it? How much did it cost? How long is it valid? Which government entity issued it?

 

Which dispensaries require it? Do your online sources accept your medical card?

 

 

I know medical cards were a thing briefly back in 2018 but I didn't realize they were still being issued.

 

 

5 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

maybe not win BUT he surely can close down all the dispensaries in the country

 

Except for those that might be approved as medical dispensaries, right?

 

 

Methamphetamine, Crystal Meth, Ketamine, and Tramadol are significant threats to public health. I hope these get the same attention as cannabis when it comes to the "war".

 

 

[bigt3116]

1 hour ago, realfunster said:

class action lawsuits

 

Laws are dynamic and constantly change, I can't see any grounds for a lawsuit.

[jonclark]

1st April right? This government has shown it is very bad at sticking to self imposed deadlines. Digital wallet anyone? 

[ikke1959]

flip flop..... legalize it, criminalize it, legalize it again, criminalize it......the problem is that it is too late, they will never manage the stop the cannabis usage anymore... same as with the vaping....too many people are using it already... Better contact a \country where cannabis is legalized and how they handle it... But I forgot... this is Thailand and never need help

[koolbreez]

The biggest threat, and where all the pressure is coming from to again criminalize recreational use, is from the two major beer monopolies that have seen a significant drop in beer sales since cannabis was legalized. That is the real threat to the industry, and where all the pressure is coming from.

[fondue zoo]

It is unlikely, if this goes through, the medical dispensaries will supply anything worth smoking if they go that route. They don't want recreational usage.

Obviously the new health minister hasn't a clue yet, as he wants to consult the "public", or that's just another show and his "findings" will strongly indicate the Thai nation don't want it.

 

 

[fondue zoo]

 

Where Are You Captain MaryJane?

Your people need you.

[Pouatchee]

only one reason for this

 

Tax-sin (taksin)

 

[bamnutsak]

8 minutes ago, koolbreez said:

the two major beer monopolies that have seen a significant drop in beer sales since cannabis was legalized.

 

Can you share any details on this assertion?

 

Weaker than expected sales have been attributed to increases in tax, overall price, and expansion of the craft beer and non-alcoholic segments.

 

 

I'm not sure that cannabis is a replacement for beer/alcohol. If it were I'm sure ThaiBev and Boon Rawd would get into the cannabis market.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fondue zoo]

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

So, how many here believe that weed shops will really close on April 1, 2025?

 

It will be sooner if they reschedule weed by Dec 2024. 

 

[bamnutsak]

4 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

It will be sooner if they reschedule weed by Dec 2024. 

 

I think the"plan" is to gazette it by 31 Dec 2024, with a 90-day "implementation" window.

 

The original declassification had a 120-day window from gazetting (Feb 2022) to implementation (June 2022).

 

 

 

[rocketboy2]

Well done Thailand.

moving forward and up. 

 

[Moncul]

Nicks content off news sites and rewrites it with AI.

Credits the photo to Wikipedia.

It's a funny old game.

[Moncul]

12 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

I think the"plan" is to gazette it by 31 Dec 2024, with a 90-day "implementation" window.

 

The original declassification had a 120-day window from gazetting (Feb 2022) to implementation (June 2022).

 

 

 

They have to pass a bill first.

[bamnutsak]

1 minute ago, Moncul said:

They have to pass a bill first.

 

No. They don't.

 

A Minister of Public Health can issue a decree reclassifying Cannabis as a Category 5 drug vis a vis the Narcotic Act of 1979 and the Psychotropic Substances Act of 1975.

 

 

Any bill will be a generic umbrella-type document that lays out the various committees and organizations to be tasked with the implementation of medical studies and applications, which can be done quite quickly. In fact, that's already been done.