Thailand’s decriminalization of cannabis has made it an outlier in Asia, where many countries still have strict penalties for cannabis offenses. Reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic could lead to underground recreational use and harm the country’s budding industry.
In June 2022, the Thai government took the bold step of decriminalising the production, sale and personal use of cannabis, and other Asian countries should take notice.
After receiving his PhD in 1974 he was Postdoctoral Fellow in International Trade and Economic Development at the University of Minnesota. Following that he taught economics at Monash University from 1976 to 1979. Joined the Economics Division, RSPAS, ANU, in 1980. Holder of the John Crawford Chair since 1989. Current research includes general equilibrium of Indonesian and Thai economies, especially as regards the relationship between economic policy and poverty incidence. Also working on macroeconomic analysis of Thai economy.
Thai politicians, businesses and tourists adjust to cannabis reforms Thailand's cannabis experiment needs better regulation and more research to understand its effects on meth prices, farming and tourism opportunities and political discourse.