Thailand drug policy

In June, the country became the first in Asia to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. But a booming recreational market has prompted a sharp backlash.

Thailand becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to decriminalize marijuana.

Allegations of corruption and rough treatment of suspects by police in Thailand are not unusual, but a video leaked of the fatal assault last year, prompting action.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnivakul said the move marked the beginning of "a new history for cannabis" in the country.

The plant, native to Southeast Asia, is used as a mild stimulant and painkiller.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, prisons in Thailand were already in a state of crisis. Reform is long overdue.

With the legalization of marijuana, Thailand hopes to carve out a stake in the global cannabis industry.

Recently, there have been signs that the Thai government is softening its stance on marijuana.