A GACP Farm Tour in Punnawithi

By Ayush Madan

January 18, 2026

The future of Thailand’s cannabis industry is uncertain. As the first country to revert from recreational use back to medical, there is no model or blueprint we can look toward. The path we pave forward is entirely up to the stakeholders — the government, Department of Traditional Medicine, and of course, the farmers who make it all possible.

Today we are going to explore an indoor Thai farm on the edge of Bangkok and have them take us through their entire grow process — from seed to flower. This farm serves as a perfect model for Thailand’s cannabis future: it is fully GACP (Good Agriculture and Collection Practices) compliant. As we go around the farm, we will pay close attention to the ways in which the farm meets the strict standards set for them, as well as speak to the director about his views on the cannabis industry in Thailand. My contact has asked me to keep his name and the farm anonymous, and I will be respecting these wishes.

NEW STANDARDS

This facility began its transformation 6.5 months ago. The owner bought the farm pre-set up but unfinished. Before the current standards were implemented, it was a different world.

"Trap grow, speed drying, no care for pesticides, black market... We came from that world. If you're gonna say it's medical, it should be nice."

The team took on the lease two weeks before the law passed in June 2025 and instantly applied for GACP. Within a month, they scrambled to make all the necessary changes to pass the certification. Had they waited another month to apply, they would likely be among the thousands of farms still on the waitlist for certification.

To meet GACP rules, all farms must follow strict operating procedures under lab standards for cleanliness. All surfaces must be cleaned daily. There must be plastic covers on the tables, plastic doors, and even plastic trays in the lights to catch any dust that might fall. Materials must be non-porous because otherwise, they absorb moisture and grow mold. This is why all the wooden doors and fixtures in the facility had to be removed or replaced. The air conditioning units also have to be cleaned monthly.

"It’s like a tattoo parlor. The quality of the tattoo artist is irrelevant [if the environment isn't sterile]."

SEED TO FLOWER

The farm follows a cyclical process where "there is no beginning.” It’s like the old addage: What came first, the chicken or the egg?

1. The Genetics

• It starts from a Mother plant grown from a registered seed. Once a strain is established, they take cuttings. These are "DNA clones... genetically identical" to the mother. This ensures an "even canopy" where the weed is exactly the same. "When it's tested, it has to be the same batch, especially for medical."

2. The Timeline

• Cutting: 12 days.

• Vegetation Room: 3-4 weeks in a bigger pot. Total of 5-6 weeks in the veg room (changing from a 1-gallon pot to a 2-gallon pot). Lights are on 18 hours a day.

• Flowering Room: 12 hours light, 12 hours off. Depending on the strain, this takes 56 to 70 days (average of 63 days/9 weeks).

• Nutrients: They use N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium). The ratio depends on the company, and the stage of growth. For seedlings it is 2:1:2, and for flowering it switches to 1:3:2.

3. The Finish

• Drying & Curing: 2 weeks of drying, followed by a cure for a few weeks in Terploc bags (55-65% humidity).

The Motto: "Fresh weed is the best weed.”

THE FORECAST

My source for this story is a true connoisseur of cannabis. Having started his journey growing a single plant in his closet, he now runs a government approved operation capable of producing hundreds of grams of premium product every month. You can see it in the way he interacts with his plants that he has a pure passion for his flower. He regularly tests his product himself, and if it’s not up to his standards, he would rather scrap the whole batch and start again than sell something subpar. 

"It’s not barley, wheat, or rice. Weed is different. Why does wine taste good some years and not others?”

This commitment to excellence proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is not in the game for the money. He is a true grower who is at the farm daily taking care of his crop. More importantly, he is a grower who leads with his senses rather than arbitrary percentages.

“I think all the percentages are made-up. I’ve had 10% THC weed that has knocked me out more than a supposedly 28% strain.”

As a smart business owner, he recognized early on how vital the regulatory framework is to survive in the industry. From Day 1 at the facility, he has worked tirelessly to ensure he has crossed every 'T' and dotted every 'I.'

"Farms HAVE to follow all guidelines.”

The farm currently stocks its product President OG in six shops, though the owner anticipates a swift evolution for the retail landscape, noting that "all shops will be clinics soon." While they aren't exporting yet, the international market is already buzzing, with buyers from Switzerland showing early interest.

When it comes to the debate of recreational versus medical use, his stance is rooted in individual liberty.

"Free will. Does it work for everyone? No. But it's personal."

As for where the road leads, his outlook is bold and optimistic. He sees a future where the cream rises to the top, and the market rewards quality over quantity. Here’s what he said when I asked him where the Thai weed industry will be in five years:

“F***ing amazing... If it continues, the quality continues to go up. Weed is getting better and better. Good weed shouldn’t get cheaper; it should get more expensive."