Why Thailand's having second thoughts about decriminalizing cannabis
"Cannabis entrepreneurs have fueled a thriving trade in Thailand," says CNN.
Wassaya Iemvijan, a former lawyer, turned to cannabis as a form of "alternative care" for her depression.
When cannabis was decriminalized in Thailand, she and her husband opened a cannabis shop.
Over the past year, Thailand has seen a green rush, with cannabis dispensaries popping up across the country.
Cannabis festivals have even been organized in cities like Chiang Mai.
However, just over a year after decriminalization, there are signs that Thailand's laws on cannabis could be rewritten.
The newly appointed Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, stated that the law on cannabis would be "rectified" within the next six months, suggesting that it may only remain legal for medical use.
The potential change in the law has raised concerns for cannabis-themed businesses, weed cafes, and dispensaries that have opened in the past year.
Attakrist, the owner of a cannabis dispensary, expressed his opposition to any legislation that could hurt the industry.
Under the current law, medical marijuana has been legal since 2018, and decriminalization in 2022 made it legal to grow, trade, and use marijuana and hemp products for medical purposes.
However, smoking weed in public spaces remains illegal.
It remains unclear how the potential changes in the law will affect businesses like Iemvijan's dispensary.
Experts warn that a crackdown on recreational use could hit small businesses hard and affect farmers who have switched to growing cannabis.
While some believe that restricting cannabis to medical use only will do more harm than good, others argue for tighter monitoring of the industry.
The Thai government's approach to changing the law is still unclear.
Despite the uncertainty, Iemvijan remains hopeful and believes that small businesses like hers are not opposed to new rules as long as they are within reasonable frameworks and easy to comply with.
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