Thailand does not welcome tourists who smoke marijuana.

In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. In June, Thailand legalized cannabis for medical and health purposes. The Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) of Thailand stated that police would not arrest people for smoking cannabis at home for medical or health reasons. However, if they smoke cannabis in public areas and cause disturbances, they could face charges.

People who smoke marijuana in public risk facing a three-month prison sentence or a fine of up to 25,000 baht (over $700). However, it's difficult to draw a line between health and recreational use. Not to mention the concern that it could increase marijuana addiction.

Since Thailand legalized cannabis, numerous small cannabis sales outlets have sprung up, prompting authorities to take action to control the situation. This has also raised concerns among locals about its impact on the image of tourism, as tourists are drawn to Thailand to smoke cannabis, deterring non-smokers from visiting.

"We do not welcome tourists like that," Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said regarding tourists' recreational use of cannabis.

President Anutin expressed a tough stance despite Thailand's dependence on tourism. Southeast Asia's second-largest economy is expected to attract 8 to 10 million visitors this year, higher than the previous forecast of 7 million. Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic caused foreign visitors to Thailand to drop to 428,000, a sharp decline from the record high of nearly 40 million in 2019.

Thailand has established a cannabis media committee to educate the public on the proper use of cannabis for medical or commercial purposes. According to the health minister, the country does not rule out the possibility of allowing recreational cannabis use once there is a better understanding of the issue. Thailand's cannabis policy has also attracted attention from neighboring countries in the region, such as Malaysia, which is exploring the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

Anh Thi