In recent days, two countries have made headlines for radically different shifts in cannabis policy.

Thailand last week: a rapid about-face from legalisation to renewed criminalisation has sent shockwaves through its booming cannabis industry. Here inAustralia, however, the tide may be turning in the opposite direction, with political momentum building toward decriminalisation and potential legalisation.

These contrasting paths offer more than just a case study in policy. They reveal how political agendas, public health concerns, and economic pressures collide-and how fragile progress can be when it’s not grounded in long-term vision.

Thailand’s Backtrack: When Policy Moves Faster than Planning

In 2022, Thailand made history as the first Asian nation to decriminalise Cannabis. For a country with a longstanding traditional use of cannabis in medicine and food, it seemed a bold but logical step forward.

The rollout, however, was anything but cautious. Regulations were murky. Recreational use, though not technically legal, went largely unpunished. In just over a year, more than 11,000 dispensaries opened their doors—many of them small, family-run businesses banking on the promise of a green economy. With projections topping $1.2 billion by 2025, Cannabis looked like a rare economic bright spot in a post-COVID world.

But the boom came with backlash. Critics pointed to a lack of licensing standards, advertising aimed at youth, and a perceived breakdown in public order. In 2023 and 2024, conservative factions began pushing back, framing cannabis as a moral and social threat. By June 2025, Thailand’s new government-led by the Pheu Thai Party-announced sweeping restrictions: cannabis flower reclassified as a controlled herb, prescriptions mandatory, and recreational use subject to penalties once again.

The political calculus was clear: the pro-cannabis Bhumjaithai Party was no longer part of the ruling coalition, and public opinion had swung in favor of tighter controls. Cannabis became a pawn in a broader contest between economic liberalism and traditional social values. The reversal, framed as a “public health measure,” also conveniently sidelined a decentralised industry that had become too independent for the state’s comfort.

For thousands of small growers, and dispensary owners, the rug has been pulled. Many invested life savings into cultivation or retail ventures under what seemed like official encouragement. Now they face shutdowns, legal uncertainty, and in some cases, criminal liability. The underground market—never fully extinguished—is expected to rebound.

Australia’s Slow Burn: Reform in the Making

In contrast, Australia’s approach has been far more measured-though no less political.

Just last month, a NSW parliamentary inquiry recommended staged reforms that could see personal cannabis use decriminalised, and eventually legalised for adults under a regulated framework. The inquiry’s findings were clear: criminalisation has failed to reduce use, disproportionately targets disadvantaged groups, and reinforces a justice system that punishes illness and poverty rather than addressing harm.

Notably, the report pointed out that access to legal medicinal cannabis in Australia is heavily classed. Those with wealth or private insurance can often obtain legal cannabis via prescription. Those without-often First Nations people, lower-income workers, and rural residents- face fines, custodial charges, and stigma for the same substance.

Still, the political response has been mixed. Despite priorly advocating for decriminalisation, Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the report, but deflected calls for immediate change, saying it’s “not on the government’s agenda right now.” This reluctance is unsurprising. Cannabis reform in Australia has long been caught in a space between evidence-based policy and political caution.

However, momentum is building. Legalisation is already underway in the ACT, and the cultural tide is shifting. The arguement is gaining traction, that regulation- not prohibition -is the best way to reduce harm, improve education, and ensure fair economic access. From a fiscal perspective, legalisation could also unlock a valuable industry, with new jobs, tax revenue, and innovation in agriculture, medicine, and sustainable manufacturing.

The Industry at the Crossroads

What both countries reveal is that cannabis is never just a health issue-it’s a political, cultural, and economic one.

In Thailand, the reversal exposes the risks of unregulated expansion without long-term safeguards. A lack of licensing pathways, quality control, and public education allowed moral panic to flourish-and left the door open for reactionary politics to reverse progress overnight. Small businesses, particularly in rural provinces, now face decimation. Many invested in farming, training, infrastructure, and employment under a policy they were told was here to stay. Instead, they are now the collateral damage of a political U-turn. Now, only a handful of pharmaceutical companies have the right to produce and sell, and we’re yet to see whether the move will drive the unregulated industry underground or shut it down completely.

In Australia, the industry has been cautiously inching forward under the medical framework for years now. But current models privilege corporate players and restrict smaller, legacy growers and retailers. As discussions move toward broader legalisation, we face a choice: will cannabis become yet another industry dominated by multinational interests? Or can we craft a model that supports regenerative agriculture, fair wages, Indigenous participation, and small business resilience?

The opportunity is here—but it depends on how we write the rules.

Here at Hemp Store

As a business rooted in plant-based wellness and social responsibility, we’ve followed these developments closely.

We support thoughtful cannabis policy reform—policies that prioritise public health, environmental sustainability, and equitable access. But we’re also mindful of the risks when reform is driven by short-term profit or political expediency. Whether it’s Thailand’s disillusioned growers or Australia’s under-served patients, one thing is clear: the communities most impacted by cannabis policy are too often the last to be consulted.

We hope for a future where cannabis laws are not dictated by stigma, where regulation protects without punishing- and where local industry, and the people in affects, can thrive.

And most importantly, we believe in staying engaged. Because the conversation about cannabis is about the kind of society we want to grow.

What You Can Do

Cannabis reform in Australia is still a live conversation-and your voice matters.

Write to your local MP. Whether you support decriminalisation, access to medicinal cannabis, or full legalisation under a regulated model, let them know. Policies don’t change unless decision-makers hear from everyday makers.

Share this, or start a conversation. Social stigma still plays a major role in delaying reform- especially on an issue like Cannabis. Sharing those real-life stories makes a difference.

Stay informed. Read the latest reports, support independent media, and keep asking questions.

The future of cannabis policy in Australia is not yet written- and we can have a say.