Thailand's 'weed wild west' faces new rules as smuggling to UK rises | BBC News

Thailand is trying to rein in its free-wheeling marijuana market. Its government has approved new measures that went into effect on Wednesday restricting the sale of the drug to those with a doctor's prescription, in the hope of helping regulate an industry some describe as out of control. The south-east Asian nation's public health minister has also said that consumption of marijuana will be criminalised again, although it's unclear when that could happen. Ever since the drug was decriminalised in 2022, there has been a frenzy of investment. There are now around 11,000 registered cannabis dispensaries in Thailand. So far this year, 173 people accused of smuggling cannabis – nearly all from Thailand – have gone through the court system in the UK and received sentences totalling 230 years. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #Marijuana #Thailand #UK #BBCNews