The once-bright neon lights of Chiang Rai's 20 cannabis shops now flicker with uncertainty after Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed a nationwide order that bans dispensaries from selling cannabis without a valid medical prescription.
This decision signals a major change in Thailand's approach to the cannabis industry. Plans to list cannabis buds as a controlled plant have also been announced, putting the future of local shop owners, growers, and workers at risk.
These moves have reignited debates over public health, the economy, and what lies ahead for legal cannabis in Thailand. Thailand made headlines in June 2022 as the first Asian country to remove criminal penalties for cannabis. The Bhumjaithai Party, led by then-Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, pushed for this change to boost tourism, farming, and health innovation.
Chiang Rai, known for its green hills and culture, soon saw 20 dispensaries open across the province. Shops popped up everywhere from the Night Bazaar to the Kok River, offering everything from dried buds to cannabis edibles. Both locals and visitors brought energy and money into the city.
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