Bangkok’s Freshest Trend: A Cannabis Café That’s Gaining Momentum
Just four days ago, the RG420 cannabis café opened its doors in the bustling Khao San Road—a hotspot known for backpackers and neon lights. Despite the short time, it’s already jam-packed with curious visitors looking for a chill spot.
Why It Matters
- Thailand officially decriminalised marijuana in June, sparking a pop‑pop of cafés, dispensaries, and—yes—tourism offering.
- COVID‑19 had dented visitor numbers from almost 40 million (2019) to just 2 million in the first half of 2022.
- NG420’s owner, Ong‑ard Panyachatiraksa, and his peers believe cannabis hubs are key to reviving the tourism industry that once added about 12% to the GDP.
What Happened Inside RG420?
Ong‑ard reports that hundreds of people—Europeans, Japanese, Americans—pop into the café daily, all searching for Thai sativa (a well-regarded cannabis strain). The owner’s mantra? “Cannabis and tourism are just a match made in Bangkok!”
Not Everyone Is a Fan
Thailand first opened the doors to marijuana for medical use in 2018, becoming the region’s first legal provider. The June decriminalisation then sparked a boom in recreational usage. Many officials, worried about health impacts and productivity loss, are still urging caution.
Official Perspective
“The law doesn’t encompass recreational cannabis use,” says Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Deputy Governor of the National Tourism Authority. “We’re focusing tourism promotion on medical aspects.”
Regulatory Tangles
In response, authorities have issued a patchwork of rules—banning public cannabis smoking, limiting sales to those under 20, and more—to keep the new policy in check.
So, Bangkok’s newest buzz? A cannabis café that’s making investors grin, tourists sip, and debate erupt—but one thing’s clear: the city’s nightlife is just getting stranger.
<img alt="" data-caption="A staff member prepares cannabis at the RG420 cannabis store, at Khaosan Road, one of the favourite tourist spots in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 31, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”c24e2daf-3a13-4936-a5a2-a3b3352d0266″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20220802_canabisss_reuters.jpg”/>
Cannabis Laws: The New Draft You’re Not Seeing (Yet)
Right now, a parliamentary committee is busy chewing over a bill that could finally nail down how cannabis can be enjoyed in our streets by September. If it passes, the legal line-up for cannabis cafes might shift to the way you might shift to the next season on a streaming service.
Recreational Rules: The “Zoning” Shakeup
- Akira Wongwan, a medical marijuana entrepreneur and committee adviser, predicts that recreational stalls will need to check the zoning charts—think “no smoking in the cheeky area next to the office tower.”
- She suggests a neat, box‑by‑box approach – dedicated areas for smoking, for storage, and for a little “no‑smoke” street mural segment.
- This means a real‑world “open‑plan” café might be allowed, but it has to live under the city’s neighbourhood guidelines.
Inside the Ink‑stained Club: RG420
In the packed, fragrant room of RG420 (a playful nod to the Thai phrase “rag gan,” meaning “love each other”), 26‑year‑old Malik Khan just finished rolling a joint. “This country is beautiful,” he says, cheeks puffed with excitement, “and there’s so much to do. Cannabis just adds to the vibe.”
The Bottom Line for Tourism and Cafés
- Tourists will likely find more cannabis‑friendly spots where the laws fit the new guidelines.
- Local cafés could see a new “permitted zone” stamped right next to the nearest bus stop.
- Policy makers will mull how zoning shapes particularly tailored “smoking rooms.”
So, while the bill’s still in the lab, keep an eye on how our cities might become a patchwork quilt of legal herb zones. Until then, let’s just roll with whatever the law says!
