Thailand's 'Cannabis Legacy': Eroding Global Trust and Worsening Domestic Issues

The Thai government is facing increased international scrutiny regarding drug issues, particularly following the arrest of a flight attendant in Australia for heroin smuggling. The United Kingdom has specifically pointed to Thailand as a source for cannabis smuggling that is causing international concern. Previously, Japan seized over 1.5 tons of cannabis from Thailand in 2025, a more than threefold increase from the previous year. Indonesia also recently dismantled a major cannabis bud smuggling network, identifying Thailand as the origin. This has been a significant blow to the Thai government, especially to the Bhumjaithai Party, led by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, which championed cannabis decriminalization as a flagship policy during the 2019 general election, successfully pushing for its passage in 2022. During that campaign, Anutin and the Bhumjaithai Party had promised that "growing six cannabis plants at home would be an economic hope, selling for 70,000 baht per kilogram." The "cannabis policy," once touted as a boon for medical use and pushed by politicians without sufficient foresight, has now become a major factor in Thailand being targeted for international drug issues, severely damaging its positive global image. Beyond damaging Thailand's reputation, the cannabis policy is also impacting the nation's future. Data from 2025 shows a continuous rise in psychiatric patients due to cannabis use, with new cases admitted to the public health system at a rate of 12.14 per 100,000 population. This significantly affects youth and creates a substantial burden on healthcare costs, representing the price society pays for a policy rushed for political gain rather than carefully designed for public protection. Deputy Prime Minister Anutin recently stated that those who smuggle cannabis out of the country will face consequences, attempting to distance himself from the issue by saying, "I drive policies based on government data and do everything within the law and constitution. If it's not good, I'm ready to shut it down, but all dimensions must be considered." While this is a principled response, the origins of the cannabis liberalization policy were a "flagship policy" for the Bhumjaithai Party's election campaign. Now, when damage occurs, the party cites "acting on government data," seemingly to absolve itself of responsibility. In reality, the political side, the Bhumjaithai Party, was the driving force that pushed for cannabis to be removed from the narcotics list on June 9, 2022, without adequate control laws in place, leading to a prolonged legal vacuum. Chayapong Champatat, the Minister of Public Health from the Bhumjaithai Party, affirmed that the government's cannabis policy strictly emphasizes medical and health purposes, unequivocally opposing recreational use. He stated that the situation has not been neglected as alleged and that the government is pushing for legislation to definitively close loopholes and solve long-term problems, namely the Cannabis and Hemp Act B.E. ..., which has completed public hearings and will include stricter criminal penalties for misuse. This cannabis liberalization crisis is not merely a drug problem, a public health issue, or a matter of national image. It is a test of the political ethics of those who championed the policy. If the outcomes prove that this policy has caused harm, the first step should be to acknowledge the truth, apologize to the public, urgently address legal loopholes, compensate those affected, and take responsibility for the consequences of a policy their party used for campaigning, rather than shifting blame to permanent officials. Source: INN News