Thailand Delays Cannabis Ban Amid Legal and Public Backlash

The Thai government postpones legislation to ban recreational cannabis use, facing potential lawsuits and criticism over regulation.

Thailand's government has postponed the consideration of a draft legislation that would ban the recreational use of marijuana, citing the need for more opinions from other parties.
The proposed ban has sparked widespread concern among cannabis retailers, entrepreneurs, and advocates, who forecast grave economic harm and a storm of litigation.
Legal cannabis has boosted Thailand's tourism and agriculture but faces criticism for under-regulation, leading to accessibility to minors and increased crime.
Cannabis decriminalization in June 2022 made Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia to do so, significantly impacting the economy and creating a nearly unregulated market.
Entrepreneurs and cannabis advocates oppose the ban, warning it would drive the industry underground again and lead to a proliferation of illegal markets.