Turns out you can have too much of a good thing.
Last week, Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, ordered a U-turn on the country’s landmark cannabis policy, saying the plant should be soon classified as a narcotic again and its use limited to medical and health purposes. This decision comes two years after the former premier Prayut Chan-Ocha’s administration decriminalized the drug in the aftermath of the pandemic. His aim? To bring tourists back to Thailand, tap into the multibillion-dollar medical marijuana business, and help struggling farmers grow a cash crop.
The prime minister’s announcement shouldn’t come as a surprise — the new government has been weighing its options for a while. The weed experiment hasn’t gone as planned. Rowing it back won’t be easy, but the kingdom should persevere and attempt to regulate this sector — even if the consequences are painful. Ignoring it will affect the nation’s youth and social harmony — ultimately the industry is only benefiting businesses, not poor farmers.