Is Cannabis Legal in Thailand Right Now?

When it comes to the availability of cannabis, I have high expectations as I had the benefit of living in Denver, Colorado for a few years 2015 – 2020. Recreational (now called “Adult Use”) cannabis was/is widely available there, which laid the groundwork for the spiritual awakening experience I would later find in Thailand.

This extraordinary access to cannabis at the time allowed me to host Cannabis Elevation Ceremonies in my home. It was a highlight as this was early, early in introducing the blending of cannabis with spirituality in the 21st century.

I’m thrilled to see that today the fusion of cannabis and spirituality has become a widely recognized and discussed topic in the cannabis community. This blending reflects a growing understanding that cannabis and other sacred plant medicines can be powerful teachers, helping us reconnect with our hearts and ourselves.

So it was with particular delight during my trip to Thailand that I discovered that the country currently has a robust legalized cannabis market.

My Spiritual Awakening Experience in Chiang Mai

But let me back up for a moment and say that, regardless, visiting Thailand is undeniably a spiritual gift! The country embraces you in a rich tapestry of friendly culture, Buddhist tradition, and stunning natural beauty that nurtures deep inner peace. From its serene golden temples to its pristine and tranquil beaches, every corner of Thailand offers opportunities for reflection and connection. Somewhere along the way, that journey became a deep spiritual awakening that forever changed how I see myself and the world. This kind of spiritual awakening experience does not always require a great deal of effort, sometimes it simply finds you in the right place.

Being able to add (legal) cannabis into this mix offers a unique enhancement on both the physical and spiritual levels – heightening sensory awareness and intuitive insights. I adored every minute of it – whether I was meditating in temples or scaling waterfalls and rafting rapids.

Whatever my activity, the plant cultivated awareness, amplified mindfulness and the delight of being in the moment. The more I embraced this way of living, the more I understood that lasting transformation wasn’t about striving, it was about discovering the power of mindfulness for emotional healing.

Inside the Thai Dispensary Scene

Cannabis is widely available in Thailand. In Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second biggest city and where I was visiting, there’s a flourishing industry of cannabis dispensaries, many on every block it seemed.

Under a groundbreaking decriminalization policy implemented in 2022 permitting the sale of cannabis, there are two primary regulations: it can’t be sold to individuals under the age of 20 (always a sound practice!), and smoking cannabis in public is prohibited. As a tourist, this last one is challenging. It reminded me of Denver back when I lived there – you could purchase flower to smoke but there were no provisions made for where to smoke it and tourists were reduced to sneaking around in alleys and dark corners to toke. 

However, in Chiang Mai I quickly learned to look for dispensaries that had consumption lounges where you could purchase your flower and then safely smoke – as in the Amsterdam model of “coffeeshops”. I did smoke some flower in this way but since I didn’t want to have to be tethered to a dispensary, I bought gummies and edibles to carry with me. The experience taught me that enjoying cannabis while traveling comes with a responsibility to understand the local legal landscape and honor the traditions of the places you’re visiting. For me, that’s what conscious cannabis use is really about.

These shops (and I stuck my head in many) carry wide varieties of everything from gummies and cookies to various strains of flower. One shop had a dozen different THC strains ranging from 16% THC to 39% THC. I opt for the lower range cultivars as I find that these offer the most pleasant easy high. My aim, in this milieu, is not to get super baked but land in a light euphoria that tickles the senses and not numb them. For me, that’s where the real magic happens, because staying clear and present leaves room for a deeper spiritual awakening experience to unfold naturally.

The Long History of the Plant

For right now and right here in 2024, Thailand leads the way in Asia with its cannabis availability. Prior to this latest chapter, the country has a long history spanning centuries of using cannabis as a traditional food and medicine. It’s reported that a few generations back, farmers in the rural northeast would relax with cannabis after a long day’s work in the fields. This was all thrown out the window in 1979, when Thailand bowed to U.S. pressure, and implemented a comprehensive narcotics act that imposed severe penalties for smoking, possessing, or selling cannabis.

What goes around comes around. May the War on Drugs RIP.

Do you have thoughts on this? I invite you to drop down to the comments section and share them.

With Love,

Becca

P.S. You know, after talking about my Cannabis Elevation Ceremonies, I think it’d be fun to have some online. My gift to our growing community. We’d do about 60-75 minutes with acknowledgment and welcoming of the energy of the plant (obviously you’d have yours at the ready) and then a powerful esoteric practice to release whatever is knocking loudest on your head. Have an interest? Send me an email at becca@emotionallib.com to let me know you’re up for it.