Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong chaired a multi-agency discussion at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (June 19) to follow up on issues identified during an earlier field visit by a Senate working group, including illegal cannabis sales, foreign business nominees, and unregistered migrant labour.
The meeting was joined by Senator Prinya Wongcherdkwan, police representatives and public health officials.
The Senate working group inspection tour of the island on Apr 25 found widespread use of cannabis in public spaces in key tourist areas, particularly Patong, said an official report of the meeting.
Complaints from residents and tourists have since intensified, with many reporting discomfort from cannabis smoke and concerns over cannabis-laced food products ‒ such as cookies, brownies and jellies ‒ being sold near family zones.
“There are reports that families now avoid certain areas,” Senator Prinya said, noting that cannabis use in public has undermined Phuket’s reputation as a family-friendly destination.
“This affects not only tourism but also public health and safety,” he said.
Police from Patong said they have conducted numerous raids in collaboration with public health officials, resulting in arrests and shop closures for selling cannabis products without permits. Yet the problem persists, reported the Bangkok Post.
Phuket is home to nearly 1,500 cannabis outlets, according to the provincial public health office. The majority ‒ 752 ‒ are in Muang District, with 520 in Kathu and 223 in Thalang. Some licensed shops have also come under fire from nearby businesses, particularly restaurants, which claim the smell and association with drug use drives customers away.
Deputy Chair of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, Satjapon Thongsom, said the island’s cannabis saturation is creating unfair business conditions and contributing to environmental degradation, particularly in beachside zones where illegal businesses have been operating unchecked.
Tourism operators said overseas travel agents have started warning clients ‒ especially families ‒ that Thailand is becoming synonymous with cannabis use, a perception they fear could take years to reverse.
The Phuket Tourist Association President Thaneth Tantipiriyakij was present at the meeting. Mr Thaneth said that association members, and non-members, have proposed stricter zoning regulations for cannabis shops and designated areas for consumption.
Thailand made history in 2022 by becoming the first Asian country to decriminalise cannabis. But the move ‒ championed by Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul during his time as public health minister ‒ lacked comprehensive legislation, leading to what many now describe as a regulatory vacuum.
A proposed bill by the current Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin seeks to limit cannabis use to strictly medical purposes, requiring users to present medical certificates. But political instability has delayed progress.
With no national law in place, Phuket officials say they must act locally to prevent further harm to the province’s image and economy.
“The aim now is to compile these findings and suggestions and present them to the governor for concrete action,” said Vice Governor Adul. “We need to protect Phuket’s standing as a world-class tourist destination.”