Marijuana Losing Appeal Among Tourists in Phuket, Thailand

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The legalization of marijuana in Thailand has become one of the attractions for tourists. However, in Phuket, the most popular destination in the country, marijuana is no longer appealing to tourists. Many have reported complaints about the unrestricted use of marijuana in public places.

Tourism companies in Phuket have proposed zoning to reduce complaints from people disturbed by the recreational use of marijuana. As reported by Bangkok Post on Friday, June 20, 2025, the company stated that the widespread use of marijuana on the southern tourist island, which has 1,500 official marijuana shops, has begun to hurt tourism in Thailand.

In response to the reports, local officials met with representatives from the private sector on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Senator Parinya Wongcherdkwan received public complaints about the recreational use of marijuana in tourist areas such as Patong.

Concerns of Family Tourists

Residents of Phuket said many family tourists avoid certain places due to marijuana smoke and the sale of marijuana-infused food such as cookies, brownies, and jelly, which can be dangerous for children if consumed.

Police from the Patong police station said that in various raids with public health officials, they have found and arrested many shop operators selling such items without proper permits. Satjapon Thongsom, vice-chairperson of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, stated that some licensed shops also face complaints from nearby restaurants.

The Phuket Tourist Association said tour agents in many countries have informed their members that Thailand is now associated with high marijuana use. This condition is undesirable for family tourists.

Controlled Marijuana Use

The private sector has proposed that authorities increase control over the plant by limiting the number of places for marijuana use. According to the provincial public health office, there are 1,495 marijuana dispensaries in Phuket. Of those, 752 are in the Muang district, 520 are in the Kathu district, and 223 are in the Thalang district.

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize marijuana in 2022, but so far has struggled to regulate and limit its use. At the time, Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul aimed to create a marijuana economy by issuing a ministerial announcement removing marijuana from the narcotic list while serving as the minister of public health.

However, the lack of clear laws and regulations has resulted in chaos. Three years later, there is still no law regulating the matter. Given the current political chaos, it's clear that this law is not a priority.

In May, Minister of Public Health Somsak Thepsutin said that marijuana users in Thailand would be required to have a medical certificate if the version of the law from the ruling Pheu Thai Party is passed. This is to ensure its use is only for medical purposes.

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