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Thai PM threatens to ‘shut down’ cannabis industry after global smuggling spike

Thai PM threatens to ‘shut down’ cannabis industry after global smuggling spike
South China Morning Post Monday 06 July 2026, 09:34 UTC By Aidan Jones 1 min read
Key Points

Advertisement Thai PM threatens to ‘shut down’ cannabis industry after global smuggling spike Four years after decriminalisation, a wave of international drug busts could force Asia’s only legal cannabis market to recriminalise 3-MIN READ3-MIN Listen A spate of seizures of Thai cannabis in the UK, Germany, Indonesia and Hong Kong has cast a shadow over the Southeast Asian nation’s decriminalisation of the plant. Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis in 2022,...

Advertisement Thai PM threatens to ‘shut down’ cannabis industry after global smuggling spike Four years after decriminalisation, a wave of international drug busts could force Asia’s only legal cannabis market to recriminalise 3-MIN READ3-MIN Listen A spate of seizures of Thai cannabis in the UK, Germany, Indonesia and Hong Kong has cast a shadow over the Southeast Asian nation’s decriminalisation of the plant. Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, promising a lucrative new cash crop for a market intended strictly for medicinal use. But four years on, with lawmakers still wrangling over cannabis control legislation, high street dispensaries have proliferated for recreational sale, while growers hit by rock-bottom prices amid a supply glut have turned to illegal export markets willing to buy in bulk. Following a wave of arrests and seizures traced back to Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has warned the plant could be re-criminalised if stalled legislation fails to curb its misuse. “No matter how strict our measures are, if people can still smuggle drugs out, we need to go back and reassess our approach,” Anutin told reporters on Sunday. Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed 1.00x [Image text:] AP DAKJAR TINDAK2 DA'JAR PEACUKAI
Thai (ORG) Asia (LOCATION) UK (LOCATION) Germany (LOCATION) Indonesia (LOCATION) Hong Kong (LOCATION) Southeast Asian (ORG) Thailand (LOCATION) Asian (ORG) Anutin Charnvirakul (PERSON) Anutin (ORG) Advertisement Select Voice Select Speed (ORG)
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