Government says decriminalisation fueled social ills, but producers argue new rules will only push industry underground.

Two years ago Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize marijuana. As in California, it hasn’t worked out as planned.

Medical marijuana has been legal in Thailand since 2018, but decriminalization in 2022 meant it was no longer a crime to grow and trade marijuana or hemp products, or to use any parts of the plant ...

Neon weed signs have become ubiquitous in Bangkok’s busy tourist areas, with dispensaries cropping up on every corner. Hundreds of food and drink vendors advertise cannabis-infused menus.

Given that marijuana plants typically run closer to 15 percent THC by dry weight, a 0.3 percent cutoff seemed logical on its face—akin to the 0.5 percent alcohol threshold for nonalcoholic beer.