The cannabis industry in Thailand is at a turning point. Just a few years after legalization, the market has seen rapid expansion, political turbulence, and fierce competition. Ascent Farms, an indoor cultivation facility, is navigating this landscape with a commitment to quality and sustainability.
Click here to view the photo report of our visit at Ascent Farm
According to Chane from Ascent Farms, the lack of supply in the Thai market, initially meant that cannabis was sourced from local underground farms and illicit international imports. Some producers prioritize volume over quality, often using pesticides and poor cultivation practices to cut costs. "That's not the game we're in," says Chane. "We grow indoors because we want to grow less but earn more. The environment here is too humid for outdoor growing without heavy pesticide use. We're focused on producing the best cannabis."
The challenges of the Thai cannabis industry
Chane notes that cannabis was initially used as a political bargaining chip to gain public support, but the resulting regulatory framework was underdeveloped and poorly enforced. This led to significant gaps in consumer safety standards and left many growers without the guidance or resources needed to succeed. Early policies even encouraged outdoor cultivation, despite Thailand's humid climate, which makes outdoor growing difficult without heavy pesticide use. The lack of proper education and oversight meant that many growers entered the market unprepared, leading to widespread crop failures and financial losses. "Lots of farms went out of business, farms whose growers didn't get educated enough to even tell the difference between a male and a female plant."
This also meant that foreign investments eventually dried up, added on top of political shifts making investors wary, and discussions of potential policy reversals have cast a shadow over the market. "But with recent developments, things are stabilizing. It's clear now that the industry isn't going anywhere."
The competitive edge of indoor farms
Despite the uncertainty, large-scale indoor farms like Ascent Farms continue to grow. The facility operates with 160 LED lights, producing around 50 kg of premium cannabis per month. Their approach includes rock wool hydroponics, strict hygiene protocols, and air showers to prevent contamination. "A cannabis facility is a manufacturing facility at the end of the day," Chane points out. "You need discipline. You can't have people smoking on the job and treating it casually."
The price of indoor-grown cannabis has plummeted. At the height of the market, a kilogram could sell for 300,000 baht ($9,000). Today, the price has dropped to around 16,000 baht ($474). This sharp decline is largely due to oversupply and the influx of illicitly funded farms that sell at any price, regardless of quality. "There are a lot of money-laundering farms backed by illegal businesses," says Chane. "They don't care about the product, and that's dragging the whole industry down."
Click here to view the photo report of our visit at Ascent Farm
While some farms struggle, Ascent Farms stays competitive by focusing on high-end markets. Their cannabis is tested through Certificates of Analysis (COA) and sent to GMP-certified facilities in Australia for medical use. "Good cannabis is clean cannabis. No pesticides, no heavy metals. It's medicine for many people, and that's the standard we hold ourselves to."
The path ahead
Thailand's cannabis industry is still evolving. There's little regulation around tracking and compliance, but new industry associations are working to expose bad actors and push for stricter oversight. "Local cannabis associations are working hard to improve industry standards, advocating for stricter regulations, and exposing unethical operators," says Chane. "Their goal is to ensure that Thailand is recognized for producing high-quality, safe cannabis, not subpar products driven by unsafe practices."
Looking ahead, Ascent Farms plans to expand into medical cannabis and launch its own dispensaries. "We want to help break the stigma," says Chane. "It'd be great to have cannabis seen as a legitimate alternative, not something shady."
Despite the challenges, the Thai cannabis industry is maturing. With the right regulations and a focus on quality, the country has the potential to become a global cannabis hub. "Five years from now, we see ourselves in long-term grow contracts, producing at a larger scale but still staying true to our quality-first approach," says Chane. "The industry is competitive, but for those of us doing it right, the future looks bright."
Click here to view the photo report of our visit at Ascent Farm
For more information:
Ascent Farm
www.ascent-farm.com