Current cannabis regulation changes in Asia, with special consideration of Thailand’s model

In recent years, the regulatory situation for cannabis in Asian countries has been changing. Several countries such as Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea, which have always been characterized by a very restrictive vision of cannabis, are opening to possible medicinal use of this plant. Thailand, perhaps the most prominent example in this part of the world, has instead opened the door to medicinal and recreational use. In fact, in 2022, the Southeast Asian state declared that cannabis was to be removed from the schedules of narcotic substances, to encourage the emergence and growth of the medicinal cannabis market. Thailand in fact, opened up the use of medicinal cannabis during the year 2019, making it the first Asian country to open its doors to this industry. A radical change has been observed in just one year (2022-2023) regarding the management and presence of cannabis within Thai society. To date, it is easy to come across several vendors, legally regular or not, selling cannabis flowers and beats on the side of the road or in state-of-the-art dispensaries. This is especially observed in large cities, such as Bangkok, but also in the various population centers away from tourism. It is therefore interesting to explain and study what the changes in cannabis regulation in Thailand have been, with future perspectives on neighboring countries and comparing it with current European and American models.