Thailand Closes Over 1,000 Marijuana Shops, Seizes Nearly 1 Ton of Flower in Nationwide Crackdown

Between June 16 and August 13, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine inspected 5,218 of the country’s 18,763 licensed cannabis-related businesses. The sweep resulted in 724 license suspensions, 129 license revocations, 180 prosecutions for unlicensed sales, and 116 seizures of cannabis flower. Officials also reported 33 arrests for smuggling marijuana out of the country through Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. Since 2022, the department has received 176 formal complaints about marijuana businesses, most involving unlicensed sales. Deputy Director-General Dr. Thewan Thaneerat said enforcement will remain strict “to ensure marijuana is used responsibly and in ways that benefit society.”

Officials are urging the public to report suspected violations to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine by phone or through its website.