Stock image of a cannabis shop in Thailand courtesy of Smoking Skunk

 

Amid escalating concerns from both locals and tourists, Phuket officials are taking decisive steps to regulate the island’s flourishing cannabis industry. Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced a strategic plan to implement designated “green zones” intended to control where cannabis can be sold and consumed.

 

The initiative, revealed on Tuesday, aims to address the flood of complaints regarding the rampant spread of cannabis businesses since its decriminalisation in 2022. The situation, many argue, threatens to undermine Phuket’s image as a family-friendly holiday destination.

 

At a recent meeting of the Phuket City Council, Governor Sophon emphasised the urgency of the matter. “We’ve been inundated with complaints about the pervasive smell and its repercussions on our tourism image,” he stated. This gathering marked the debut session of the council following the May local elections and subsequent approval by Thailand's Election Commission.

 

In response to the feedback, Phuket City Municipality is poised to submit a detailed proposal to the central government. The request seeks permission to establish zoning regulations, mirroring the control mechanisms used for entertainment venues. Previously, a letter had already been sent urging limits on where cannabis shops could operate, specifically avoiding proximity to schools, significant tourist sites, and residential areas.

 

Governor Sophon outlined the strategy: “Initially, they want the Ministry of Public Health to issue guidelines or empower local governments to delineate specific areas for cannabis sales and consumption.”

 

This regulatory push has gained momentum due to a variety of concerns. Residents and international visitors alike have voiced complaints about the overwhelming odour and anxieties regarding the potential impact on youth and community safety.

 

Today's discussions involve senators and local government bodies, aiming to escalate the zoning proposal to the national level. The governor underscored the initiative's importance, stating, “This is about safeguarding both our communities and our tourism appeal. We'll have to wait and see which areas are approved or restricted.”

 

The explosion of cannabis shops on the island followed its decriminalisation, championed by Anutin Charnvirakul. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anutin has been a vocal supporter of cannabis legalisation, although the ensuing public backlash may necessitate reevaluating the current approach to regulation.

 

The urgency of implementing these zoning regulations highlights the need to balance economic opportunities with the preservation of Phuket’s reputation. As authorities navigate this complex landscape, their goal remains clear: to protect both the island's community values and its standing as a premier tourist destination.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-19

 

 

It's an island eide concern but Phuket City Municipality will submit a proposal? Strange.

Is cannabis not illegal again?? only for medical use?? 

I think the smell is great.....is it offensive to you ?

So distinct.

6 hours ago, freedomnow said:

I think the smell is great.....is it offensive to you ?

So distinct.

much better than that stale beer smell I experience everywhere. 

32 minutes ago, sungod said:

much better than that stale beer smell I experience everywhere. 

 

Alcohol is the drug of choice for so many. 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced a strategic plan to implement designated “green zones” intended to control where cannabis can be sold and consumed.

Best of luck with that.... idiots

3 hours ago, sungod said:

much better than that stale beer smell I experience everywhere. 

Where do you hang out!

Weed smokers will take no notice.

Their brains are too frazzled.

They have no regard for anyone else.

3 hours ago, sungod said:

much better than that stale beer smell I experience everywhere. 

 

3 hours ago, sungod said:

much better than that stale beer smell I experience everywhere. 

Where is this stale beer smell that weed smokers always talk about?

 

I stayed in Krabi a few weeks ago, I was astonished at the vast amount of weed shops.

you could could walk along blindfolded and quite easily walk in to one.

Horrible stinky stuff!

My dad used to say, “That’s like closing the barn door after the cows got out.” Telling cannabis shops that have been open for a year or two that they now have to move to a green zone (and expecting they would) feels exactly like that.

 

I’ve been here a while, but the lack of forward thinking still amazes me.

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Is cannabis not illegal again?? only for medical use?? 

Yeh just a week or two ago news was dealing with it at a national level. Now this. 

Waste of time.

Buy the stuff in a green zone then go smoke it outside  a normal coffee shop outside the zone. Other people get effected by the smell.

 

Live in a green zone? You guys are going to get stunk out.

 

Supposedly it’s already illegal to smoke pot in a public place. See how well that rule has been enforced.

 

This is another case of rushing into something with badly thought rules that in any case aren’t enforced. When will Law makers realise that RTP very rarely, if at all, enforces any rules consistently. They should know it by now.

I am a legalization of all drugs advocate, but I am starting to agree about this. I personally don’t mind the smell, as I used to smoke the stuff like it was going out of fashion. However, when there are elderly people and children around, I think it rather irresponsible to sit there and start to blaze a fat one in the open…

 

If you must do it, then do it in your garden or in private.

 

Mark.

Dope smokers and the general population usually don't have much overlap so this is good policy to keep those two groups separated. 

 

How can Thailand attract higher earning tourists if when they arrived they're dumped into a 20-something dope smoking party town? Even worse than that they may arrive and think their plan landed in Mumbai by accident.

Also move night life industry to separate zones as well

Anutin BJT (cannabis) Vs Thaksin PT (casinos)

The fight continues over many battlefields.

attract the pot heads, they will sit around and solve all the world's problems.  eat chips, sleep, and smoke some more.

 

let them do nothing, it's their life.

 

what are you doing? 

11 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Dope smokers and the general population usually don't have much overlap so this is good policy to keep those two groups separated. 

 

How can Thailand attract higher earning tourists if when they arrived they're dumped into a 20-something dope smoking party town? Even worse than that they may arrive and think their plan landed in Mumbai by accident.

Not sure Thailand is a destination for high earning tourists.

I never considered it when I was high earning.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Governor Sophon outlined the strategy: “Initially, they want the Ministry of Public Health to issue guidelines or empower local governments to delineate specific areas for cannabis sales and consumption

Oh yeah and just who is going to control the designated and non designated areas? No one will so stop wasiting your time talking.  Do the positive thing and ban it, at least when it was underground we didn't have the obnoxious stench everywhere or the level of crime we have now

11 hours ago, freedomnow said:

I think the smell is great.....is it offensive to you ?

So distinct.

Not a bad smell, and much better than cigarette smoke.

3 minutes ago, Quentin Zen said:

attract the pot heads, they will sit around and solve all the world's problems.  eat chips, sleep, and smoke some more.

 

let them do nothing, it's their life.

 

what are you doing? 

Same as you.....Complaining 

53 minutes ago, Kenny Boy said:

 

Where is this stale beer smell that weed smokers always talk about?

 

On their stale weed beer breath.

The Thai government’s focus on complaints about marijuana smoke feels like a manufactured issue compared to the very real, omnipresent nuisances we deal with daily. I live in Phuket Town. Sure, once in a blue moon I catch a whiff of weed. But what’s truly unavoidable? The constant stink of cigarettes and the deafening roar of illegally modified motorbikes echoing through the streets at all hours. These are the real quality-of-life issues.
 

Let’s get real: the actual spaces where someone might smell marijuana smoke are tiny slivers of the island: a few beach bars, designated nightlife zones like Soi Bangla, or tourist-heavy corners of Old Town. And guess what? Families visiting Phuket aren’t accidentally stumbling into these areas; they choose to go where the party is. I was on Soi Bangla a couple of weeks ago. I detest that area, but a friend was having a party on one of the side roads. I saw two families walking with young kids. The touts were holding up signs for sex shows. There are scantily clad dancers in full view of the kids. These were irresponsible parents, period. 

If we’re cracking down on minor nuisances, maybe start with the stuff that invades every neighborhood and every home: noise and cigarette smoke.

Phuket will soon add drug island to it's list of attractions. Another reason never to visit.

33 minutes ago, Cornish Pasty said:

I am a legalization of all drugs advocate, but I am starting to agree about this. I personally don’t mind the smell, as I used to smoke the stuff like it was going out of fashion. However, when there are elderly people and children around, I think it rather irresponsible to sit there and start to blaze a fat one in the open…

 

If you must do it, then do it in your garden or in private.

 

Mark.

So since you are an advocate for all drugs being legal do you actually think Meth, Coke and Heroin addicts will be doing their drugs in their private gardens?  I mean really dude. You high now? 

1 hour ago, Kenny Boy said:

Weed smokers will take no notice.

Their brains are too frazzled.

They have no regard for anyone else.

You forgot the government will also take no notice 

While it's not a problem, I've noticed that there are four (4) different weed shops within one (1) block of my house.  Certainly convenient for customers!
I wonder if weed shops now outnumber the bars? Or 7-Eleven?

3 hours ago, blaze master said:

 

Alcohol is the drug of choice for so many. 

And yet alcohol NEVER comes under the same scrutiny as weed. 

 

Note all the coded language of "Family Friendly", "Community Standards" and "Premiere Tourist Destination" as if weed is somehow the epitome of moral degradation whilst alcohol resulting in street violence, traffic fatalities and poverty (from family income diverted to drink, rather than food, rent, etc), isn't. 

 

When blatant hypocrisy ceases to draw attention corruption thrives.