Prime Minister Anutin declared that smuggling is an intentional breach of the law, and anyone transporting cannabis out of the country must face the consequences. He pointed out that the Ministry of Public Health is rushing new legislation to strictly control cannabis use for medical and health purposes only, with no allowance for recreational use or smoking.
8 Jul 2026 GMT+7 Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul addressed cases of multiple cannabis smuggling incidents from Thailand abroad, stating that the Prime Minister rhetorically asked, "Are these acts smuggling? Smuggling means intentionally breaking the law, so legal action must be taken. These goods are controlled products and cannot be freely imported or exported." Therefore, those who smuggle are deliberately violating the law. Authorities must arrest and prosecute them, and if caught at the destination, they must face the consequences of their actions.
The Prime Minister further said the Ministry of Public Health has drafted and submitted legislation to regulate cannabis use, as previous attempts to pass such laws were unsuccessful, causing ambiguity. Once this law is enacted, everything will be clear, and cannabis use will be controlled strictly within health and medical categories to benefit the public, excluding recreational use or smoking.