Just three years ago, Thailand made history as the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis, paving the way for a “green rush” that transformed tourist hotspots and local neighborhoods. Colorful dispensaries, weed cafes, and cannabis shops popped up everywhere, drawing in visitors from around the world. But now, the landscape is changing fast. The Thai government has introduced tough new rules: from now on, customers must have a doctor’s prescription to buy cannabis, and it can only be used for health and medical reasons. Advertising, online sales, and vending machines are banned, and dispensary owners face tighter controls. Officials have even said they hope to fully re-criminalize cannabis in the future.
This shift is a shock for many business owners who poured their savings and hopes into this fast-growing industry—including Shane Smith, the English owner of Up In Smoke Cannabis Dispensary & Rooftop Bar & Lounge in Krabi. His personal journey offers a window into what these dramatic legal changes mean on the ground.
Shane Smith: Dreaming Big in Krabi
For Shane Smith, joining the cannabis trade was natural. “I have smoked cannabis myself for 20 years and also travelled around Thailand for 20 years,” he shares. When cannabis became legal in Thailand, he moved from England to open his dispensary. He chose Krabi after years of exploring the country. “Krabi is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, and it’s perfect for tourists. Railay Beach and the islands are right at our doorstep, and the atmosphere is so much nicer than busy places like Phuket.”
From the start, Shane felt he had made the right choice. “The locals have responded really well to my dispensary being here in Ao Nam Mao,” he says. “Most businesses on my street welcome me because everyone comes and smokes weed on my rooftop, then they get the munchies and eat in all the local restaurants!” he laughs.
But things changed quickly when the government threatened to ban cannabis again. “When me and my Thai girlfriend heard they were trying to ban cannabis, we were devastated because for three years we had put all our money into this shop,” Shane says. The recent new rules could have meant the end, but he’s grateful for a compromise: “Now they are allowing us to continue, but they want cannabis smoking venues to keep it off the streets. My rooftop is a perfect venue with good ventilation.”
Shane plans to turn his rooftop bar into a proper cannabis-smoking venue, with signs so people know what to expect. He’s also proud to buy all his cannabis from a farm just 5km away. “It’s a clean farm with strict rules, and I can see how my cannabis is grown,” he says.
Having smoking venues like this isn’t a new idea—it already works well in Amsterdam. By creating special places like Shane’s rooftop for cannabis use, it keeps smoking off the streets and away from public spaces. Thailand is now following this smart example with its own smoking venues.
Shane’s story shows how changing cannabis laws affect real people. Through all the ups and downs, his passion and hope for the future remain strong.
For visitors and locals wanting a safe, welcoming place for quality cannabis in Krabi, Up In Smoke is ready to greet you on the rooftop.
See you tomorrow,
