Reference
·Supporting source
ASEAN cannabis policy comparison (2024)
Thailand most permissive in ASEAN despite rollback
Thailand remains the most permissive cannabis-policy jurisdiction in ASEAN even after the 2024 recriminalisation: medical use is firmly legal with an established cultivation and dispensing infrastructure, industrial hemp (<0.2% THC) is fully commercialised, and CBD wellness and cosmetics products move freely under FDA registration. Malaysia maintains a strict criminal regime with limited medical research carve-outs. Singapore enforces zero-tolerance criminal penalties. The Philippines permits medical compassionate use only via narrow exemption. Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar maintain criminal prohibition with no formal medical regime. Thailand's relative permissiveness keeps medical tourism, export contract manufacturing, and CBD wellness positioning intact.
Figure in context
Thailand remains the most permissive cannabis-policy jurisdiction in ASEAN even after the 2024 recriminalisation: medical use is firmly legal with an established cultivation and dispensing infrastructure, industrial hemp (<0.2% THC) is fully commercialised, and CBD wellness and cosmetics products move freely under FDA registration. Malaysia maintains a strict criminal regime with limited medical research carve-outs. Singapore enforces zero-tolerance criminal penalties. The Philippines permits medical compassionate use only via narrow exemption. Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar maintain criminal prohibition with no formal medical regime. Thailand's relative permissiveness keeps medical tourism, export contract manufacturing, and CBD wellness positioning intact.
Interpretation notes
What this tells you
Thailand remains the most permissive cannabis-policy jurisdiction in ASEAN even after the 2024 recriminalisation: medical use is firmly legal with an established cultivation and dispensing infrastructure, industrial hemp (<0.2% THC) is fully commercialised, and CBD wellness and cosmetics products move freely under FDA registration. Malaysia maintains a strict criminal regime with limited medical research carve-outs. Singapore enforces zero-tolerance criminal penalties. The Philippines permits medical compassionate use only via narrow exemption. Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar maintain criminal prohibition with no formal medical regime. Thailand's relative permissiveness keeps medical tourism, export contract manufacturing, and CBD wellness positioning intact.
What not to do with it
Permissiveness score 0-5: 5 = full medical and industrial hemp legal; 0 = full criminal prohibition.
Related figures
Adjacent numbers that add context without drowning the value.
Thailand licensed cannabis dispensary count (2022-2025)
Ministry of Public Health, FDA Thailand, Bangkok Post cannabis policy tracking
Thailand cannabis market size (2022-2025)
Prohibition Partners Asia Cannabis Report, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Krungsri Research, SCB EIC
Thailand hemp and CBD-product export value (2020-2024)
Thai Customs export data, 3304 CBD-bearing cosmetics, 1518 hemp oil), Thai FDA, Ministry of Commerce
Thailand medical cannabis cultivation and processing licences
Thai FDA Narcotics Control Division, Ministry of Public Health Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Government Pharmaceutical Organization
Thailand cannabis policy timeline (2018-2024)
Royal Thai Government Gazette, Ministry of Public Health policy disclosures, Bangkok Post and Thai PBS legislative coverage
Surviving licensed dispensary share after rollback
Ministry of Public Health DTAM register, Thai Cannabis Future Network, Thai Industrial Hemp Trade Association
Report context
Atlas actors in this figure's reports
Profiles covered in the report that cite this number.