Picture courtesy of The Phuket News

 

In a decisive move, officials in Phuket's Cherng Talay area have shuttered seven cannabis shops after a series of raids exposed widespread regulatory violations. Authorities from the Thalang District Office, in partnership with the Phuket Public Health Office and local police, carried out the operation yesterday, July 2, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, targeting eight businesses in total.

 

Only one outlet was found compliant, while the others faced immediate suspension. Violations included on-premises smoking at two locations and failure to submit required PorTor 27 and PorTor 28 forms—critical documents for tracking sourcing and inventory—at five shops. Additionally, three businesses were improperly advertising cannabis, and two sold extracts without proper authorisation.

 

Samples from these shops are now under scrutiny to determine if they breach the Herbal Products Act or the stricter Narcotics Code. A district spokesperson confirmed, “The licences of all seven shops have been suspended effective immediately. The shops must cease all operations while the investigations continue.”

 

This crackdown reflects the Thai government's heightened efforts to regulate cannabis following its decriminalisation in 2022. While cannabis is legal, strict rules govern its sale and consumption, particularly in tourist hotspots like Phuket.

 

Government officials stress that this operation is just the beginning, as they plan further inspections to enforce compliance with Ministry of Public Health regulations. The community has voiced increasing concern over lax controls, citing issues with unauthorised smoking lounges and aggressive marketing tactics.

 

As officials intensify oversight, they urge cannabis business owners to thoroughly understand and adhere to the law to avoid harsh penalties, including potential permanent closures.

 

Business operators are reminded that while cannabis offers new commercial avenues, compliance with the law is non-negotiable. Failure to do so may result in significant fines or loss—both financially and reputationally. With 1 Thai Baht equating to about £0.022, fines and business losses can quickly escalate.

 

As the situation unfolds, entrepreneurs in Thailand's budding cannabis sector must navigate this complex regulatory landscape diligently to ensure they remain on the right side of the law.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-03

 

 

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a decisive move, officials in Phuket's Cherng Talay area have shuttered seven cannabis shops after a series of raids exposed widespread regulatory violations.

Good.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

With 1 Thai Baht equating to about £0.022

 

Relevance 🤷🏼‍♂️ ? The article isn't from The Mirror, is it?

The BIB are about to get a major source of funding returned to them. 

Realized they are attracting trash from abroad.

I didn't realise smoking within the shops was illegal as most shops are fitted out with tables and chairs  and you see people smoking in there all the time. Obviously by selling coffee in there as well they think they can get away with it. Most appear to perhaps incentivise the local constabulary in order to allow their customers tte freedom to partake in an in-house drag 🙂

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Good.

  tsk tsk !     the Thai's need a version of the Gadsden flag ..  maybe a Cobra on a Weed plant

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Business operators are reminded that while cannabis offers new commercial avenues

Isn't that what the government originally offered when it decriminalized cannabis? 

Reversing the law doesn't "offer new commercial avenues." It restricts avenues.

“Violations included on-premises smoking “

 

If they care to stroll around the myriad of cannabis shops in my area, they will find many shops with outside seating areas provided, with music playing. All designed so that patrons can smoke their weed on the premises in a conducive atmosphere.

 

Its not hard to spot them if you haven’t got your eyes closed and nose plugged.

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand's budding cannabis sector

What happens if you do want buds? 🙂 

So the gov will make money from marijuana after all. 

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Business operators are reminded that while cannabis offers new commercial avenues, compliance with the law is non-negotiable. Failure to do so may result in significant fines or loss—both financially and reputationally. With 1 Thai Baht equating to about £0.022, fines and business losses can quickly escalate.

Well firstly as everybody knows compliance with the law in Thailand is very negotiable probably the most negotiable in the world

Secondly why tell us the value of the baht in £ sterling a currency unique to the British and meaningless to the rest of the world nowadays?

5 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

If they care to stroll around the myriad of cannabis shops in my area, they will find many shops with outside seating areas provided, with music playing. All designed so that patrons can smoke their weed on the premises in a conducive atmosphere.

Is there really any harm in that?  

7 hours ago, Pinot said:

The BIB are about to get a major source of funding returned to them. 

Rubbish , attitudes have changed , it will never be the same as it was

7 hours ago, Anthony mellows said:

Realized they are attracting trash from abroad.

Its Thailand pal "trash from abroad" is their bread and butter,  lets not forget we are here too, before you get too superior.

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Is there really any harm in that?  

It’s illegal isn’t it?

 

Are one of those farang who believe that Thai laws don’t need to be followed? Because that’s the type of thing that gets farang a bad name in Thailand.

9 hours ago, Krabi King said:

 

Relevance 🤷🏼‍♂️ ? The article isn't from The Mirror, is it?

How about the relevance to

 

Thailand

Phuket

Cannabis

 

Very few people care about the Mirror, which is a daily paper published 8,000 miles away in the UK.

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

It’s illegal isn’t it?

 

Are one of those farang who believe that Thai laws don’t need to be followed? Because that’s the type of thing that gets farang a bad name in Thailand.

Steady on grandad its not illegal yet, 30 to 60 days grace as far as I am aware.   You can file your tax return while you are waiting ,wouldn't want to  get a bad name would we?

So the hiso have finally demanded that the other competition closes

That didn't take long, in the Gazette Wednesday, busted Wednesday 

From phuket police.....not my translation.

 

To entrepreneurs selling veggies

The Provincial Health Office would like to summarize the initial advice about the new ministerial regulations for you first.

1. You must purchase flower buds from farms that have been certified by the GACP standard from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine or other standards such as Organic Thailand/GAP, but for this standard, the farm that sells must analyze every production lot.

- Stores that still have the original flower buds left (not purchased from a farm with a standard) still have to use the installment period that the department has given the farm to request approval for the correct standard. (Notified that the certification of the standard is used for 1-2 months)

2. New announcement on interest payment to officers paid from legal professionals. Currently, the Internal Affairs Department has adjusted the form of cannabis payment. The consideration period is 1-2 months. Currently, shops can sell as usual but must support the report, Por Tor 27 and Por Tor 28 and submit the report according to the original conditions again. Smoking in the establishment is prohibited. /

3. The Provincial Public Health Office will hold a meeting to explain the guidelines according to the new ministerial regulations on July 7, 2025 in the form of onsite (held at the Provincial Public Health Office) and online via Zoom Meeting, together with the supervision of the meeting invitation letter.

The meeting date is July 7. 

In addition,

 

📌📌📌 If you have any questions about the Por Tor 27 and Por Tor 28 reports, you must read the notes. New announcement But must report in the old form, there is no report format.

Also for anyone interested....

 

 

13 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Steady on grandad its not illegal yet, 30 to 60 days grace as far as I am aware.   You can file your tax return while you are waiting ,wouldn't want to  get a bad name would we?

I have no idea why you are prattling on about tax returns. Or why you think I am a grandad.

 

i think I am right in saying that it is and always has been illegal to smoke pot in public. And in this very OP it states that shops were closed partly because customers were smoking pot on the premises.

 

Try to focus on the subject matter and read the OP. It will help you make more relevant comments.

23 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Its Thailand pal "trash from abroad" is their bread and butter,  lets not forget we are here too, before you get too superior.

I just want people to come on holiday , enjoy themselves, and not get involved in criminal activities, like cannabis smuggling.Whats wrong with that?

23 minutes ago, Anthony mellows said:

I just want people to come on holiday , enjoy themselves, and not get involved in criminal activities, like cannabis smuggling.Whats wrong with that?

Why concern yourself about what others do.      I could not care less , as long as they leave me alone

On 7/4/2025 at 6:22 PM, wensiensheng said:

It’s illegal isn’t it?

 

Are one of those farang who believe that Thai laws don’t need to be followed? Because that’s the type of thing that gets farang a bad name in Thailand.

 

Sir laws and taxes are only for the little people, did you not know?

On 7/5/2025 at 4:48 PM, Anthony mellows said:

I just want people to come on holiday , enjoy themselves, and not get involved in criminal activities, like cannabis smuggling.Whats wrong with that?

 

Cannabis smuggling is fun and profitable....lol

 

On 7/5/2025 at 1:50 AM, blaze master said:

From phuket police.....not my translation.

 

To entrepreneurs selling veggies

The Provincial Health Office would like to summarize the initial advice about the new ministerial regulations for you first.

1. You must purchase flower buds from farms that have been certified by the GACP standard from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine or other standards such as Organic Thailand/GAP, but for this standard, the farm that sells must analyze every production lot.

- Stores that still have the original flower buds left (not purchased from a farm with a standard) still have to use the installment period that the department has given the farm to request approval for the correct standard. (Notified that the certification of the standard is used for 1-2 months)

2. New announcement on interest payment to officers paid from legal professionals. Currently, the Internal Affairs Department has adjusted the form of cannabis payment. The consideration period is 1-2 months. Currently, shops can sell as usual but must support the report, Por Tor 27 and Por Tor 28 and submit the report according to the original conditions again. Smoking in the establishment is prohibited. /

3. The Provincial Public Health Office will hold a meeting to explain the guidelines according to the new ministerial regulations on July 7, 2025 in the form of onsite (held at the Provincial Public Health Office) and online via Zoom Meeting, together with the supervision of the meeting invitation letter.

The meeting date is July 7. 

In addition,

 

📌📌📌 If you have any questions about the Por Tor 27 and Por Tor 28 reports, you must read the notes. New announcement But must report in the old form, there is no report format.

 

The GACP is the biggest scam around....The only thing the GACP is certifying is that small growers will be put out of business...I has nothing to do with safety...