In a bold move ahead of Thailand's general election, three major political parties—People's Party, Democrat, and Pheu Thai—have pledged to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, restricting its use strictly to medical purposes. This initiative seeks to curb the influence of foreign businesses using nominees and address unfair competition stemming from illegal operations. The announcement came during a political forum titled "Thai Tourism: What to Do Next?" organised by the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) and the Thai Hotel Association (THA).

The People's Party, led by Sittiphol Viboonthanakul, reiterated their stance on requiring explicit permissions for medical cannabis usage to safeguard the public. The Pheu Thai candidate, Surakiat Thienthong, confirmed the party's consistent position against legalising recreational cannabis, arguing instead for a medical-only classification. Similarly, Werapong Prapha of the Democratic Party acknowledged the international diplomatic tensions that have arisen, particularly in Europe, due to cannabis legalisation in Thailand.

The tourism sector also highlighted pressing legal issues during the forum. THA President Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun pointed out that registered hotels face higher costs for compliance and safety, while illegal accommodations bypass regulations by using online platforms. Global online travel agents exacerbate this financial strain with high commission fees ranging from 20% to 30%, significantly higher than the typical 15% in Europe.

Atta President Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn identified weak law enforcement as a major barrier for Thai tourism. Sittiphol Viboonthanakul, of the People's Party, noted only 11 reported cases of nominee businesses, contrasting with numerous complaints and suggesting ineffective regulation. The People's Party is planning to implement preventive measures to stop foreign nominee registrations, focusing on Thai legal or accounting consultants who facilitate these setups.

The discussion also touched on the possibility of confiscating assets from guilty nominee businesses, ensuring they do not further exploit local operators. The Democrats propose a "Super Act" to update outdated laws and better regulate the private sector. This policy aims to reduce barriers while enhancing governmental support, reported the Bangkok Post.

Key Takeaways:

• Three parties propose to reclassify cannabis strictly for medical use.

• Business leaders call for stronger laws against unfair competition.

• New legislation may better empower Thai tourism and local businesses.

Related Stories:

Parties Push Tourism Overhaul Ahead of Thai Election

Cannabis Chaos: Activists Challenge Parties on Pot Policies

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2026-01-15

 

 

Will they reimburse the millions that have been spent on investments in shops, farms, accessories, transport, etc etc

Those parties are sending the message that the government lacks any rational decision making capability, in this case oblivious to the bankrupting of unknown numbers due to this 180 degree turn

I would never invest in Thailand... to risky, gov too blind

Get on the bus,

Get off the bus,

Get on the bus,

Get off the bus,

Get on the bus,

Get off the bus,

Get on the bus,

Get off the bus,

Repeat until everyone is confused with what is happening.

Doesn't sound like much of a party, does it?

Ridiculous. So it would seem the black market and crimilisation is preferable to regulation. Idiots.

Bags out of the cat. Too many maryjane grow-ops. Brick weed used to come from Laos. Now it's all primo smoke.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Ridiculous. So it would seem the black market and crimilisation is preferable to regulation. Idiots.

Nonsense , time to stop the madness. The only idiots are those who fail to see this clusterfudge.

4 minutes ago, KireB said:

Nonsense , time to stop the madness. The only idiots are those who fail to see this clusterfudge.

Dope's been available here for decades upon decades and still will be. Difference now is it will be back to the old days of criminality and corruption. BTW it's available online and this I'd expect will explode as has online vapes since the vape crackdown. As I said and have said before regulation not ciminalisation is the rational way to go.

16 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Dope's been available here for decades upon decades and still will be. Difference now is it will now be back to the old days of criminality and corruption. BTW it's available online and this I'd expect will explode as has online vapes since the vape crackdown. As I said and have said before regulation not ciminalisation is the rational way to go.

At least it will take the stench off the streets and out of the bars again

10 minutes ago, Stocky said:

At least it will take the stench off the streets and out of the bars again

Alas it was inconsiderate and idiotic "visitors" to the country that has assisted in bringing about the backflip. Considerate and discreet this backflip might not have happened. One should, however, keep in mind that there's a high probability of an agenda of monopolisation in play here.

15 hours ago, Stocky said:

At least it will take the stench off the streets and out of the bars again

Yep, the stale stench of beer and old men sitting on stools in wife beaters is much better......

It will just be ignored, thank god. I might even pop along and get a medical certificate cos i certainly ain't going to stop consuming, its my life............

1 hour ago, sungod said:

Yep, the stale stench of beer and old men sitting on stools in wife beaters is much better......

You need to look for a new bar

18 hours ago, Emdog said:

Will they reimburse the millions that have been spent on investments in shops, farms, accessories, transport, etc etc

Those parties are sending the message that the government lacks any rational decision making capability, in this case oblivious to the bankrupting of unknown numbers due to this 180 degree turn

I would never invest in Thailand... to risky, gov too blind

My heart bleeds for them 🙄

16 hours ago, Stocky said:

At least it will take the stench off the streets and out of the bars again

Well said that man!!!

1 hour ago, sungod said:

Yep, the stale stench of beer and old men sitting on stools in wife beaters is much better......

Indeed it is, you ageist dependent clown.

Fingers crossed that it happens.

The selfish farangs stinking the place out, in bars, in the street and on the beach, may well be over 🙏🙏🙏

17 hours ago, KireB said:

Nonsense , time to stop the madness. The only idiots are those who fail to see this clusterfudge.

Agreed, been a fiasco from day one...

They now have data from hospitals and leading doctors regarding the true cost of having this much freedom.

Medical use only,,, yes

prescribed by a doctor in a hospital, and bought from a hospital pharmacy only.

17 hours ago, Stocky said:

At least it will take the stench off the streets and out of the bars again

Yip. I smoked it for 20 years , but having just come back from samui it is stinking everywhere you go in the main streets . It's not a nice pleasant smell like hashish but a putrid smell off grass . Criminalising it again might stop the mass gangs off french Algerian types that seem to come here in numbers to smoke it everywhere in groups and drive around like idiots on bikes everywhere makeing a nuisance of themselves.

I think there are more important places the BIB could be spending their money than chasing old stoners.

1 hour ago, Pumpuynarak said:

It will just be ignored, thank god. I might even pop along and get a medical certificate cos i certainly ain't going to stop consuming, its my life............

Wishful thinking. The walk in and buy a vape market (shops) has gone. Now it's online only with absurd fines and jail time still in place.

That's it, give us a further good reason to resettle outside Thailand.

35 minutes ago, ronster said:

Yip. I smoked it for 20 years , but having just come back from samui it is stinking everywhere you go in the main streets . It's not a nice pleasant smell like hashish but a putrid smell off grass . Criminalising it again might stop the mass gangs off french Algerian types that seem to come here in numbers to smoke it everywhere in groups and drive around like idiots on bikes everywhere makeing a nuisance of themselves.

"I smoked it for 20 years" he says. "Now that I'm done smoking it I am in favour of banning it. When I'm done (too old for) having sex I'll vote for night-life to be banned".

On 1/15/2026 at 9:13 AM, webfact said:

The People's Party, led by Sittiphol Viboonthanakul, reiterated their stance on requiring explicit permissions for medical cannabis usage to safeguard the public. The Pheu Thai candidate, Surakiat Thienthong, confirmed the party's consistent position against legalising recreational cannabis, arguing instead for a medical-only classification

I predict that it's going to be fairly easy (but costly) to get a prescription from on-site doctors in the surviving cannabis shops.

On 1/15/2026 at 9:13 AM, webfact said:

, Werapong Prapha of the Democratic Party acknowledged the international diplomatic tensions that have arisen, particularly in Europe, due to cannabis legalisation in Thailand.

These punters tell more lies than Trump!

19 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Ridiculous. So it would seem the black market and crimilisation is preferable to regulation. Idiots.

This way they don't have to pay tax on the shakedown haul.

15 minutes ago, seykota said:

These punters tell more lies than Trump!

Probably he is referring to all the smuggling cases where mules take dope from Thailand to Europe. Some get caught but probably there are lots that don’t. I guess European countries don’t like it.

18 hours ago, Stocky said:

At least it will take the stench off the streets and out of the bars again

Spot on, they're nothing but a bunch of no hope tossers 🤣😂

On 1/15/2026 at 10:13 AM, webfact said:

The People's Party, led by Sittiphol Viboonthanakul, reiterated their stance on requiring explicit permissions for medical cannabis usage to safeguard the public.

IMHO this is a mistake for PP. They garnered support by being a "progressive" party and this appealed to the younger generation. Taking this strong stance against weed is trying to pander to the older voters, but they will lose support from others since young Thais can understand how devastating this would be for thousands of small business. Also, despite what the average AN poster thinks, lot of Thais smoke weed and were pleased when it was decriminalised.

20 minutes ago, SABloke said:

IMHO this is a mistake for PP. They garnered support by being a "progressive" party and this appealed to the younger generation. Taking this strong stance against weed is trying to pander to the older voters, but they will lose support from others since young Thais can understand how devastating this would be for thousands of small business. Also, despite what the average AN poster thinks, lot of Thais smoke weed and were pleased when it was decriminalised.

It just shows how "progressive" and "forward" they are as a political party. They would advocate the death penalty for cannabis if they thought it would bring them votes.

2 hours ago, Stocky said:

You need to look for a new bar

Perhaps you should go to one where they dont allow smoking?

2 hours ago, Kenny Boy said:

Well said that man!!!

Indeed it is, you ageist dependent clown.

I think your colostomy bag needs emptying