Cannabis Chaos: Thailand's Drug Hub Fears as Control Lapses

Khaosod•Politics•19d ago

Reader Briefing

Concerns rise over Thailand becoming a global cannabis hub and surging mental health issues due to inadequate control following decriminalization.

•Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut of the People's Party criticizes the government for failing to adequately control cannabis after its decriminalization.
•Thailand faces a growing risk of becoming a global cannabis export hub and a base for international criminal organizations.
•The number of psychiatric patients due to cannabis use has tripled since decriminalization, indicating a public health crisis.
•Calls are made for urgent government action to implement strict regulations and control measures for cannabis production and use.

Overview

•Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People's Party, stated that Thailand is becoming a global cannabis export hub.
•The loosening of cannabis regulations by Anutin Charnvirakul in 2022, while other countries still classify it as illegal narcotics, is highlighted.
•From October 2025 to May 2026, nearly 3,000 cannabis smuggling cases were seized, totaling over 300,000 kg with a value exceeding 4 billion THB.
•Psychiatric patients due to cannabis use increased from approximately 6,500 in 2019 to over 20,000 in 2023, a threefold rise.
•The lack of sufficient legal control and supervision over cannabis sales, licensing, and age verification is identified as the cause of escalating problems.
•Seizures of cannabis from Thailand in Hong Kong (23kg), Poland/Germany (1.2 tons), and Indonesia (3.37 tons) illustrate international issues.
•The current legal framework for cannabis production is criticized for lacking a license for manufacturing, preventing accurate stock tracking.
•Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut urges the Prime Minister to directly oversee relevant agencies to intercept cannabis exports and prioritize the push for robust cannabis control legislation.

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Key Quotes

Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut

"Today, Thailand is becoming the world's cannabis export hub and is viewed by global governments as an operational base for transnational criminal gangs and drug traffickers."

วันนี้ประเทศไทยกำลังจะกลายเป็นฮับ (HUB) ส่งออกกัญชาของโลก และถูกมองจากรัฐบาลทั่วโลกว่า เป็นฐานปฏิบัติการให้กับแก๊งอาชญากรข้ามชาติ ผู้ค้ายาเสพติด

Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut

"In 2019, about 6,500 psychiatric patients from cannabis use; after decriminalization, this jumped to over 20,000 in 2023, a threefold increase."

ปี 2019 มีผู้ป่วยจิตเวชจากการเสพกัญชาประมาณ 6,500 กว่าราย แต่หลังปลดล็อกกัญชาออกจากบัญชียาเสพติดแล้ว ตัวเลขผู้ป่วยจิตเวชในปี 2023 กระโดดขึ้นไปอยู่ที่ 20,000 กว่าราย หรือเพิ่มขึ้น 3 เท่าตัว

Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut

"We don't oppose medical cannabis use, but adequate stringent laws for control and supervision are what Anutin and Bhumjaithai have neglected for the past 4 years."

พรรคประชาชนไม่ได้เห็นค้านในการใช้กัญชาทางการแพทย์ แต่การมีกฎหมายกำกับควบคุมดูแลที่เข้มงวดและดีเพียงพอเป็นสิ่งที่นายอนุทินและพรรคภูมิใจไทยละเลยใน 4 ปีที่ผ่านมา

Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut

"I believe the past 4 years were a period where Bhumjaithai may have been in neutral gear, creating legal loopholes that caused problems to escalate."

ผมเชื่อว่า 4 ปีที่ผ่านมาเป็นช่วงที่พรรคภูมิใจไทยอาจจะเกียร์ว่างไปหน่อย ทำให้เกิดช่องว่างทางกฎหมายจนทำให้ปัญหาลุกลามบานปลายมาถึงปัจจุบัน

Key Entities

Person

Teng(เท้ง)

Political figure criticizing government cannabis policy, referring to himself as 'Teng'. Often associated with the People's Party.

Anutin(อนุทิน)ℹ️

Former Minister of Public Health credited with initiating the decriminalization of cannabis.

Nattaphong Ruangpanyawut(นายณัฐพงษ์ เรืองปัญญาวุฒิ)

MP List-Tally and leader of the People's Party, who delivered the critique on cannabis policy.

Anutin Charnvirakul(อนุทิน ชาญวีรกูล)ℹ️

Minister of Public Health at the time of cannabis decriminalization and current Minister of Interior.

Organization

Bhumjaithai Party(ภท.)ℹ️

Political party criticized for alleged negligence in controlling cannabis after its decriminalization.

People's Party(พรรคประชาชน)

Political party advocating for stricter control and supervision of cannabis in Thailand.

Customs Department(กรมศุลกากร)

Government agency responsible for customs and border protection, involved in seizing smuggled cannabis.

Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB)(สำนักงานคณะกรรมการป้องกันและปราบปรามยาเสพติด (ป.ป.ส.))

Government agency responsible for drug suppression and control in Thailand, tasked with intercepting cannabis exports.

Law

Thai Traditional Medicine Intellectual Property Protection and Promotion Act B.E. 1999 (1999)(พ.ร.บ.คุ้มครองส่งเสริมภูมิปัญญาการแพทย์แผนไทยปี 1999)

Legislation governing Thai traditional medicine, under which cannabis production licensing is criticized for being insufficient.