Cannabis, conflict, and controversy: Thailand’s tourism model faces an identity crisis as locals blame the wrong kind of tourists, scammers, and unchecked policy drift. (File Photo) PATTAYA, Thailand – Calls are mounting for Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry to step in and regulate the open sale and use of cannabis on the streets of Pattaya and Phuket. As the country navigates the post-pandemic tourism rebound, debate is growing over whether Thailand’s cannabis decriminalization has helped or hurt its image — particularly in its flagship beach destinations. Tourism Minister Sorawong Thienthong is under renewed pressure after social media platforms filled with photos, videos, and eyewitness complaints of tourists openly lighting up joints outside 7-Elevens, in beach bars, on walking streets, and near family areas. “The smell is everywhere — this is not what we signed up for,” wrote one frustrated visitor on Facebook. “Weed has become the new tuk tuk tout.” But the backlash has sparked a wider, often heated conversation. “Funny how cannabis has become the scapegoat,” one user commented. “Forget the drunken buffoons chain-smoking cigarettes at the bars and getting into brawls.” Others point to international examples. “Doesn’t seem to be a problem for Amsterdam — the place is packed. Same with Colorado and California. So not buying that argument,” another posted. “Thailand should focus on managing behavior, not banning cannabis outright.” However, local resentment is also bubbling over — and not just about cannabis. “Cannabis plus the wrong kind of tourist is a bad mix,” one Thai resident commented. “Add in scammers from Eastern Europe — laundering black money through shell businesses and buying up property — and now it’s out of control.” Tourism Minister Sorawong hears concerns firsthand as calls grow for clearer rules on cannabis, unruly tourists, and unchecked business takeovers in Pattaya and Phuket. Another added more pointedly, “Weed or the waves of cheap-spending tourists — you hit the nail on the head. The real issue is how these crowds are flooding in and reshaping the country in all the wrong ways.” Despite the discriminatory tone in some of the comments, the underlying sentiment appears to be frustration with the changing face of Thai tourism — and a lack of oversight. Some argue that cannabis remains part of Thailand’s unique post-pandemic identity, drawing in travelers from nations where marijuana use remains criminalized. “Take it away, and they’ll go to Vietnam or Cambodia,” one poster warned. “Those countries legalize it next, and you lose the edge.” So far, Thailand has stopped short of rolling back cannabis laws, though the Thai government has vowed to reclassify the plant for medical use only by year’s end. But until a new law is passed, enforcement remains patchy, and confusion reigns — not just among tourists, but also vendors, police, and even local governments. For now, the cannabis haze continues to drift over Thailand’s most iconic tourist cities — with no clear consensus in sight.