Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul considers shutting down the nation's booming cannabis industry to combat rising smuggling and trafficking.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has warned that he may shut down Thailand's thriving cannabis industry to address the growing issue of international smuggling. While Anutin Charnvirakul was a primary advocate for legalization, the rise in trafficking has drawn criticism from European partners and threatened Thailand's OECD bid. The administration has faced pressure as the domestic market creates incentives for growers to export excess supply, leading to thousands of illegal shipments. While the government introduced medical-only restrictions between 2025 and 2026, these measures failed to curb smuggling and forced many domestic shops to close. Critics argue that a total shutdown is premature, as the legal industry is not the primary source of the smuggling problem. Instead, the government is working on a draft Cannabis and Hemp Act to streamline regulations and combat fake licenses. For now, the administration is implementing harsher customs penalties to manage the flow of products while attempting to preserve the industry's potential to alleviate rural poverty.

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