Sawadee Everyone,
Just as we guessed back in early September, Anutin Charnvirakul managed to wrangle together enough support (with a little help from the People’s Party) to slide into the prime minister’s seat. Sworn in, cabinet set, stopwatch running, Anutin says he’s only here for about four months before handing things back to the voters in early 2026.
And honestly, he doesn’t exactly have the luxury of a long honeymoon. Between the conflict with Cambodia, flooding, roads caving in, tourism taking a kamikaze nosedive and an economy wobbling like a tuk-tuk with a flat tire, he’s busy juggling actual governance for once.
So… What About Weed?
Since taking office, Anutin’s been tight-lipped on cannabis. But on the ground? The knives that Pheu Thai had out for dispensaries and growers have mysteriously vanished (or at least been sheathed for now).
Take Phuket: back in August, the local government swore up and down it would start enforcing Pheu Thai’s “prescription-only” rules by September 1. Then, once it became clear Pheu Thai’s days were numbered, September 1 rolled around with all the enforcement vigor of a sleeping soi dog. In other words, nothing happened.
For now, the Ministry of Public Health and law enforcement seem to be in a holding pattern.
The one exception? Phuket’s hotel and tourism operators, who, despite rampant prostitution, mafia taxis, overpriced everything, tourists running down Bangla Road naked, and, yes, Russians getting it on in pickup trucks, still insist cannabis is the real problem dragging down the island’s reputation. (Pro tip: when you can’t find a real reason, just yank one out of thin air)
The Cannabis Needle to Thread
Anutin’s position is tricky. He’s expected to tweak Pheu Thai’s heavy-handed cannabis rules, likely softening the more punitive measures that seemed designed to kneecap growers and dispensaries, but he has to do it carefully.
Expect moves that look tough but don’t bite much. Enough to let him say: “See? It was medicinal all along. It’s those other guys who turned it political.”
But don’t start rolling celebratory joints just yet. Pheu Thai probably won’t win the next election, but the People’s Party, currently the frontrunner, hasn’t exactly been waving green flags either. They’re more in the “Canadian model” camp: keep it strictly medicinal at first, then maybe open it up once society chills out.
Anutin’s Four-Month Audition
This short stint is a golden opportunity for Anutin to polish his party’s image. If Bhumjaithai racks up enough seats in the next election, he could once again find himself in the kingmaker role, deciding which way the coalition swings.
Meanwhile, People’s Party has its own headaches. Their big splash in the last election fizzled after Pheu Thai boxed them out of power. Many pundits think PP won’t repeat its Move Forward-era highs, which means… they may need Bhumjaithai (or someone other than Pheu Thai) as a partner to govern.
That’s why PP swallowed its pride and backed Anutin this round, despite hating just about everything he stands for (especially recreational cannabis). Politics, after all, is the fine art of holding your nose while cutting deals.
The Outlook
Cloudy skies, with a strong chance of political thunderstorms. Cannabis is safe (for now) but the next four months will be all about Anutin threading a very thin needle while his rivals sharpen their knives for election season.
Until next month…
Stay lifted and enlightened,
thailandTHC