File photo for reference only. AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

 

The authorities have ramped up efforts to control cannabis misuse by closing over 1,000 shops and seizing nearly a tonne of cannabis flowers in a sweeping nationwide operation.

 

The crackdown, initiated by Thailand's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, targeted 5,218 out of 18,763 cannabis-related businesses from 16 June to 13 August 2025, as part of a strategy to regulate the burgeoning industry and prevent youth access.

 

The actions taken during the operation included suspending 724 licences, revoking 129 licences, and prosecuting 180 businesses for operating without a valid licence. A significant move: 1,079 shops have been permanently closed.

 

Additionally, the operation resulted in the seizure of cannabis products in 116 instances. The authorities also made 33 arrests related to attempts to smuggle cannabis out of the country through Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Overall, a staggering 980.65 kg of cannabis was confiscated.

 

This enforcement follows a rise in public complaints since the decriminalisation of cannabis in 2022. A total of 176 complaints have been registered, focusing on issues like unlicensed sales, smoking within shop premises, sales to minors, public nuisances, and advertising violations. The most frequent complaints concerned unlicensed sales, with 68 reported cases.

 

Dr. Thewan Thaneerat, Deputy Director-General of the Department, emphasised the importance of strict regulation to ensure that cannabis usage aligns with health and social benefits rather than contributes to misuse. The focus remains on safeguarding youth and ensuring that the cannabis industry operates within a legal and socially responsible framework, reported The Nation.

 

D Nantasak Chotichanadechawong, Director of the Office for Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional and Folk Medicine Wisdom, stressed the proactive nature of these operations. These operations occur on a weekly basis, with the most recent sweep taking place on 13 August 2025.

 

This effort involved collaboration with various agencies in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, including police stations such as Phaya Thai, Chana Songkhram, Samae Dam Metropolitan, and Rattanathibet Provincial.

 

Detailed inspections during these operations revealed that out of 17 shops, seven possessed valid licences, one had no violations, five were closed on the day of inspection, one was no longer in business, and two were operating without a licence, leading to prosecution. Another shop faced suspension because it breached licence conditions.

 

Authorities urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

 

Reports can be made via phone at 0-2591-7007 or through the department's website, www.dtam.moph.go.th. Continuous collaboration among communities, businesses, and authorities is critical to ensuring that cannabis use remains safe and beneficial for society.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-08-16

 

Oh the humanity.

Whilst cannabis use is not one of my foibles (alcohol and cigs remain my poisons of choice) I have been considering long term cannabis use to deal with back pain; I understand kratom can also be effective. Currently, I occasionally take pain medications, but mostly just grin and bear it; my concern is the long term health effects of paracetamol, Arcoxia, Ultracet, and the like; especially as I occasionally binge drink, which puts enough strain on my liver as it is, methinks.

Major bummer.

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

The crackdown, initiated by Thailand's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, targeted 5,218 out of 18,763 cannabis-related businesses from 16 June to 13 August 2025, as part of a strategy to regulate the burgeoning industry and prevent youth access.

 

This article has about as much truth as the figures for tourism. Notice its over the last two months, of which the last 6 weeks nothing has been enforced or happened. Simply BS hyperbole from an untrusted source. 

Best thing to do...now they realise having weed shops is hitting them where it hurts...in the pocket..won't be surprised to see many, many more shut down

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

The actions taken during the operation included suspending 724 licences, revoking 129 licences, and prosecuting 180 businesses for operating without a valid licence. A significant move: 1,079 shops have been permanently closed.

 

This enforcement follows a rise in public complaints since the decriminalisation of cannabis in 2022. A total of 176 complaints have been registered, focusing on issues like unlicensed sales, smoking within shop premises, sales to minors, public nuisances, and advertising violations. The most frequent complaints concerned unlicensed sales, with 68 reported cases.

So 180 complaints lead to 1,080 shops being closed.

Did every complaint report 6 shops?

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So 180 complaints lead to 1,080 shops being closed.

Did every complaint report 6 shops?

 

Yep it complete nonsense.....

 

 

The most frequent complaints concerned unlicensed sales, with 68 reported cases.

 

 

So a whole bunch of ( Karens )  are running wild on the streets checking if weed shops are licenced properly and stirring up trouble and making complaints..............lol...........Yea right give me a break......My guess is they have received almost zero complaints......

 

 

Awesome! Guy´s back to the bottle! 😂

Sometimes a mistake is wearing white to a formal event in New York City after Labor Day, other times a mistake is invading Russia and advancing toward Moscow in late summer, with the advancement of winter on the horizon. 

 

This is a historic mistake on the part of this ridiculous government, the approval of ganja as a commodity was a was a wise thing to do, liberalization means forward progress, and now they are moving the country backwards once again. Many Thai people invested billions upon billions of baht with the presumption that they could trust the government in keeping their promises. And now they're being financially crippled, by trusting these nitwits. And all this is happening at a time when there's already so much financial hardship in the country

 

All I can say is, I hope these politicians end up suffering a terrible fate. 

OMG, that's like, 1 complaint per week!

Ridiculous.... SMH... Sad.

2 hours ago, nausea said:

Whilst cannabis use is not one of my foibles (alcohol and cigs remain my poisons of choice) I have been considering long term cannabis use to deal with back pain; I understand kratom can also be effective. Currently, I occasionally take pain medications, but mostly just grin and bear it; my concern is the long term health effects of paracetamol, Arcoxia, Ultracet, and the like; especially as I occasionally binge drink, which puts enough strain on my liver as it is, methinks.

If your taking, Paracetamol, Aroxia, and Ultracet, your pain is very mild, all over the counter drugs so why consider weed, fag's will do you more harm and if its whiskey and the like your drinking then yes be concerned, a few beers a week not hurt you, but go spend a couple thousand baht and get your liver and blood checked 

I haven’t noticed any cannabis shops closing around my area of Phuket. A couple of news ones opened up. Most still have outside sitting areas so that customers can enjoy their purchases, some consisting of bean bag relax areas with music playing….right beside the road.

 

Seems the broom isn’t long enough for the sweeping crackdown to reach Phuket

I can't say i can complain, I haven't set foot in a single shop in months while I am a daily smoker. Mainly because they charge rip off prices where I can get very high end indoor (sativa, hard to find) for just 35 baht per gram. Stocked up for 250 grams or so, same for papers and filters I just buy wholesale.

Should never had legalised it in the first place 

Although I am not in favor of so many cannabis shops especially within school zones, I feel that this flip flop in policy has caused many economic hardship… so in such a country we should all adopt a jwait n see attitude in any government policy rather than jumping on the first bandwagon.. I am not surprise if there will be more flip flop again in future …

3 hours ago, webfact said:

File photo for reference only. AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

 

The authorities have ramped up efforts to control cannabis misuse by closing over 1,000 shops and seizing nearly a tonne of cannabis flowers in a sweeping nationwide operation.

 

The crackdown, initiated by Thailand's Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, targeted 5,218 out of 18,763 cannabis-related businesses from 16 June to 13 August 2025, as part of a strategy to regulate the burgeoning industry and prevent youth access.

 

The actions taken during the operation included suspending 724 licences, revoking 129 licences, and prosecuting 180 businesses for operating without a valid licence. A significant move: 1,079 shops have been permanently closed.

 

Additionally, the operation resulted in the seizure of cannabis products in 116 instances. The authorities also made 33 arrests related to attempts to smuggle cannabis out of the country through Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Overall, a staggering 980.65 kg of cannabis was confiscated.

 

This enforcement follows a rise in public complaints since the decriminalisation of cannabis in 2022. A total of 176 complaints have been registered, focusing on issues like unlicensed sales, smoking within shop premises, sales to minors, public nuisances, and advertising violations. The most frequent complaints concerned unlicensed sales, with 68 reported cases.

 

Dr. Thewan Thaneerat, Deputy Director-General of the Department, emphasised the importance of strict regulation to ensure that cannabis usage aligns with health and social benefits rather than contributes to misuse. The focus remains on safeguarding youth and ensuring that the cannabis industry operates within a legal and socially responsible framework, reported The Nation.

 

D Nantasak Chotichanadechawong, Director of the Office for Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional and Folk Medicine Wisdom, stressed the proactive nature of these operations. These operations occur on a weekly basis, with the most recent sweep taking place on 13 August 2025.

 

This effort involved collaboration with various agencies in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, including police stations such as Phaya Thai, Chana Songkhram, Samae Dam Metropolitan, and Rattanathibet Provincial.

 

Detailed inspections during these operations revealed that out of 17 shops, seven possessed valid licences, one had no violations, five were closed on the day of inspection, one was no longer in business, and two were operating without a licence, leading to prosecution. Another shop faced suspension because it breached licence conditions.

 

Authorities urge the public to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.

 

Reports can be made via phone at 0-2591-7007 or through the department's website, www.dtam.moph.go.th. Continuous collaboration among communities, businesses, and authorities is critical to ensuring that cannabis use remains safe and beneficial for society.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-08-16

 

How long before it hits the streets again?

Can anyone in the Thai administration make a decision and stick to it?
 

7 minutes ago, Teddy Boy said:

Should never had legalised it in the first place 

 

Was it ever legalized? It was decriminalized, which to some meant they could open up shop and sell at will to anyone.

7 minutes ago, NemoH said:

Although I am not in favor of so many cannabis shops especially within school zones, I feel that this flip flop in policy has caused many economic hardship… so in such a country we should all adopt a jwait n see attitude in any government policy rather than jumping on the first bandwagon.. I am not surprise if there will be more flip flop again in future …

I can't even understand why people agree with the school zones part, makes zero sense. Same with bars. The minimum age is 20, simply as that. Anyone who has been to high school knows that you can get what you want, if you really want to.

2 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

How long before it hits the streets again?

Never left the streets or the internet bro.  Same as it was 6 months ago. Similar to a motorcycle helmet crackdown.  "Its coming you know".🙃

A store from which I sometimes buy had an ingenious idea for a smoking room. A narrow bookcase that was in fact a door to a small smoking room. The door had a very sophisticated  electronic lock on the inside. None of the owners, staff or clients had ever heard of Anne Frank.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

So 180 complaints lead to 1,080 shops being closed.

Did every complaint report 6 shops?

Thais are not good with numbers. You buy two items in a shop. One costs ten Baht, the other 5 Baht, they use a calculator to add that up. Give them a 20 Baht note, again the calculator to determine the change. 

Good.

Keep up the good work.

Still 10000 more to go.

 

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Awesome! Guy´s back to the bottle! 😂

Guy who.?

47 minutes ago, Teddy Boy said:

Should never had legalised it in the first place 

should never have been criminalised in the first place 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The actions taken during the operation included suspending 724 licences, revoking 129 licences, and prosecuting 180 businesses for operating without a valid licence. A significant move: 1,079 shops have been permanently closed.

It's fair enough to close those outlets that don't follow rules or don't have valid license, when a such is required...👍

Thailand is ranked as the 107th most corrupt country in the world. "Transparency.org - 2024 World Corruption Perception Index". If you are not Thai, where does your country rank?

 

The alcohol industry most likely paid off the right people to ban weed. I have ZERO proof of this but having lived here for many years, it could very well be the case. 

This is such BS. A few members of the government want to make all of the money on this.

 

There should be a massive class-action lawsuit if they have such things here in Thailand.

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Major bummer.

Who is?😳