“We don’t welcome these kinds of tourists,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters when asked about recreational marijuana use among foreign visitors.
In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. In June, the entire plant was decriminalized, leading to widespread recreational use.
Despite government calls not to crack down, cannabis businesses with designated smoking rooms have struck a chord with locals and visitors alike.
But those who smoke in public risk three months in jail or fines of up to 25,000 baht ($705.82).
A staff member prepares cannabis for customers at Happy Bud, a cannabis van on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road.
Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
Anutin’s comments come even as foreign arrivals begin to increase in the tourism-dependent country. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expects 8 to 10 million arrivals this year, up from a previous forecast of 7 million.
Last year, the pandemic reduced foreign arrivals to just 428,000, compared with a record of nearly 40 million in 2019.
Thailand has focused its cannabis policy on the 28 billion baht ($790.29 million) industry based on its medical and health benefits.
Anutin said, however, that recreational use could be explored once the drug is better understood.
“It may come in the near future,” he said.
Thailand’s cannabis policy has also drawn interest from regional neighbors such as Malaysia, which is studying the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Top image: A jar of cannabis at a pharmacy in Bangkok, Thailand on August 17, 2022. Credit: Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
title: “Tourists Who Smoke Pot Are Not Welcome In Thailand Says The Health Minister Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-19” author: “Michael Lynch”
“We don’t welcome these kinds of tourists,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters when asked about recreational marijuana use among foreign visitors.
In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. In June, the entire plant was decriminalized, leading to widespread recreational use.
Despite government calls not to crack down, cannabis businesses with designated smoking rooms have struck a chord with locals and visitors alike.
But those who smoke in public risk three months in jail or fines of up to 25,000 baht ($705.82).
A staff member prepares cannabis for customers at Happy Bud, a cannabis van on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road.
Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
Anutin’s comments come even as foreign arrivals begin to increase in the tourism-dependent country. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expects 8 to 10 million arrivals this year, up from a previous forecast of 7 million.
Last year, the pandemic reduced foreign arrivals to just 428,000, compared with a record of nearly 40 million in 2019.
Thailand has focused its cannabis policy on the 28 billion baht ($790.29 million) industry based on its medical and health benefits.
Anutin said, however, that recreational use could be explored once the drug is better understood.
“It may come in the near future,” he said.
Thailand’s cannabis policy has also drawn interest from regional neighbors such as Malaysia, which is studying the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Top image: A jar of cannabis at a pharmacy in Bangkok, Thailand on August 17, 2022. Credit: Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
title: “Tourists Who Smoke Pot Are Not Welcome In Thailand Says The Health Minister Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-16” author: “Kelly Posey”
“We don’t welcome these kinds of tourists,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters when asked about recreational marijuana use among foreign visitors.
In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. In June, the entire plant was decriminalized, leading to widespread recreational use.
Despite government calls not to crack down, cannabis businesses with designated smoking rooms have struck a chord with locals and visitors alike.
But those who smoke in public risk three months in jail or fines of up to 25,000 baht ($705.82).
A staff member prepares cannabis for customers at Happy Bud, a cannabis van on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road.
Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
Anutin’s comments come even as foreign arrivals begin to increase in the tourism-dependent country. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expects 8 to 10 million arrivals this year, up from a previous forecast of 7 million.
Last year, the pandemic reduced foreign arrivals to just 428,000, compared with a record of nearly 40 million in 2019.
Thailand has focused its cannabis policy on the 28 billion baht ($790.29 million) industry based on its medical and health benefits.
Anutin said, however, that recreational use could be explored once the drug is better understood.
“It may come in the near future,” he said.
Thailand’s cannabis policy has also drawn interest from regional neighbors such as Malaysia, which is studying the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Top image: A jar of cannabis at a pharmacy in Bangkok, Thailand on August 17, 2022. Credit: Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
title: “Tourists Who Smoke Pot Are Not Welcome In Thailand Says The Health Minister Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Ramona Willard”
“We don’t welcome these kinds of tourists,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters when asked about recreational marijuana use among foreign visitors.
In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. In June, the entire plant was decriminalized, leading to widespread recreational use.
Despite government calls not to crack down, cannabis businesses with designated smoking rooms have struck a chord with locals and visitors alike.
But those who smoke in public risk three months in jail or fines of up to 25,000 baht ($705.82).
A staff member prepares cannabis for customers at Happy Bud, a cannabis van on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road.
Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
Anutin’s comments come even as foreign arrivals begin to increase in the tourism-dependent country. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expects 8 to 10 million arrivals this year, up from a previous forecast of 7 million.
Last year, the pandemic reduced foreign arrivals to just 428,000, compared with a record of nearly 40 million in 2019.
Thailand has focused its cannabis policy on the 28 billion baht ($790.29 million) industry based on its medical and health benefits.
Anutin said, however, that recreational use could be explored once the drug is better understood.
“It may come in the near future,” he said.
Thailand’s cannabis policy has also drawn interest from regional neighbors such as Malaysia, which is studying the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Top image: A jar of cannabis at a pharmacy in Bangkok, Thailand on August 17, 2022. Credit: Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
title: “Tourists Who Smoke Pot Are Not Welcome In Thailand Says The Health Minister Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Thomas Fernandez”
“We don’t welcome these kinds of tourists,” Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters when asked about recreational marijuana use among foreign visitors.
In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. In June, the entire plant was decriminalized, leading to widespread recreational use.
Despite government calls not to crack down, cannabis businesses with designated smoking rooms have struck a chord with locals and visitors alike.
But those who smoke in public risk three months in jail or fines of up to 25,000 baht ($705.82).
A staff member prepares cannabis for customers at Happy Bud, a cannabis van on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road.
Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
Anutin’s comments come even as foreign arrivals begin to increase in the tourism-dependent country. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expects 8 to 10 million arrivals this year, up from a previous forecast of 7 million.
Last year, the pandemic reduced foreign arrivals to just 428,000, compared with a record of nearly 40 million in 2019.
Thailand has focused its cannabis policy on the 28 billion baht ($790.29 million) industry based on its medical and health benefits.
Anutin said, however, that recreational use could be explored once the drug is better understood.
“It may come in the near future,” he said.
Thailand’s cannabis policy has also drawn interest from regional neighbors such as Malaysia, which is studying the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.
Top image: A jar of cannabis at a pharmacy in Bangkok, Thailand on August 17, 2022. Credit: Athit Perawongmetha/REUTERS
