The 2026 Election & The Fate of Thai Cannabis
- Ayush Madan
- 1月22日
- 讀畢需時 4 分鐘
By Ayush Madan
PROLOGUE
To understand the cannabis policy vacuum in Thailand we must go back to May 2023. The Move Forward Party (MFP) won the election in a landslide victory, with the leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, primed to modernize Thailand for the youth. Specifically, the party supported a regulated cannabis market, but their Cannabis Act never came to fruition. This is because the Thai constitutional court blocked Pita Limjaroenrat’s ascension and banned him from politics for 10 years. The courts suspended him due to claims that he owned shares in a media company called iTV, and that he was attempting to overthrow the constitutional monarchy by amending Article 112 —the Lèse-majesté law.
Even though the MFP won the popular vote, their victory was overturned. The former leaders of the MFP formed the People’s Party (PP). Within a few days, the second-place Pheu Thai Party (PTP) and the Bhumjaithai Party (BJTP) led by Anutin Charnvirakul formed an alliance. And yet, this government was deadlocked since day one. The PTP promised to put cannabis back on the narcotics list to appease their base. Meanwhile, Anutin and the BJTP — the cannabis architects — wanted to free the plant.
In June 2025, the Ministry of Public Health issued a sweeping update in the Royal Gazette. This was a clear effort by the government to bypass parliament and create roadblocks for the cannabis retail industry. It officially reclassified cannabis flowers as a controlled her, requiring a valid medical prescription for any sales. It also mandated that all cannabis must be sourced from farms with GACP (Good Agriculture and Collection Practices) certification. Additionally, the mandate banned all online sales, vending machines, and advertising of cannabis products.
At the same time, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, leader of the PTP, was the Prime Minister. However, she was removed from office following a controversial leaked phone call she had with the President of the Cambodian Senate. During a time of tense border conflicts, she referred to her own military commander as the opposition, held a submissive tone, and offered to “take care” of the President’s requests. In August 2025, the court voted to remove Paetongtarn Shinawatra as PM due to a “serious violation of ethical standards” and the PTP lost the premiership.
In September 2025, the PP made an unprecedented move and backed Anutin Charnvirakul as the Prime Minister. They struck a deal to support his minority government for four months in exchange for a national referendum on a new constitution and an early election. However, in December 2025, this relationship imploded. The PP accused Anutin of backtracking and betraying their agreement. Facing a certain vote of no confidence, Anutin chose to dissolve the parliament on December 12, 2025.
JUDGEMENT DAY
The election commission has set Sunday, February 8, 2026 as the date for the General Election and the Constitutional Referendum. Depending on the outcome of this election, Thai cannabis could be headed down one of these three very different paths.
Bhumjaithai Party (BJT)
Candidate: Anutin Charnvirakul (Caretaker PM)
Cannabis Policy:
Strict Medicalization
In a strategic shift to win over conservative voters, the former cannabis advocate Anutin has flipped tactics and backtracked on cannabis. Under his policy, cannabis flowers will only be sold at licensed hospitals, pharmacies, and DTAM approved clinics. All cannabis purchases will require a valid Thai doctor’s prescription and the dispensary cafe/lounge model will be no more.
People’s Party (PP)
Candidate:
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut
Cannabis Policy:
Regulation over Prohibition
The PP views the current cannabis Wild West as a failure of the law, not the plant itself. They intend to keep cannabis legal for adults but under strict zoning (away from schools) and heavy taxation. They would treat it similarly to alcohol — regulated, licensed, and taxed, rather than placing it back on the narcotics list or restricting it to medical use. This policy offers the most stable path for the industry and would allow shops nationwide to continue selling cannabis.
Pheu Thai Party (PTP)
Candidate: Yodchanan Wongsawat
Cannabis Policy: Recriminalization
Following the humiliation of the Paetongtarn phone call scandal, the PTP is leaning hard into populist “law and order” messaging. This is the worst possible scenario for cannabis businesses. PTP promises to re-list cannabis flowers as a Category 5 Narcotic. State-run medical research and hospital-grade tinctures would still be allowed, but the 18,000+ private dispensaries would be forced to close their doors or face criminal prosecution.
THE PEOPLE’S POWER
If you are a Thai citizen, it has never been more important for you to make your voice heard and make your vote count. Make sure to watch the live televised Prime Ministerial Debates on January 14, 17, & 29 and make up your own mind on which candidate speaks for you. You can vote early on February 1, or show up February 8 for general election and the national referendum on the constitution.
More resources:
Thailand’s snap House election and constitutional referendum | Data Dive Issue No. 26
2026 Thailand election
Thai cannabis policy
Thailand marijuana law
medical cannabis Thailand
cannabis industry Thailand
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