<p>New Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s journey from a political outsider to the top of Thailand’s power structure is inseparable from one of the most radical policy experiments in Southeast Asia in which he played a crucial role: cannabis legalisation. The so-called 'Cannabis King' of Thailand was one of the forces behind Thailand's boldest drug reform, which made recreational use of cannabis legal. Anutin leveraged his controversial but popular stance into national prominence. Anutin won 311 parliamentary votes after the ousting of Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In order to get support from the opposition People’s Party, Anutin pledged fresh elections within four months, constitutional reforms, and possibly a referendum.&nbsp;</p><h2>Anutin Charnvirakul, the new Thailand PM: What you should know</h2><p>The 58-year-old business executive-turned-politician holds an engineering degree from Hofstra University in New York. Anutin is the major shareholder and former president of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, which was involved in major infrastructure projects like Suvarnabhumi Airport.</p><p>The royalist businessman is a pragmatic conservative. He is a Buddhist amulet collector and a licensed pilot. Anutin once flew organs for emergency transplants.</p><h2>Anutin Charnvirakul: Political career</h2><p>Anutin was the deputy health minister under Thaksin Shinawatra in 2004. He was later banned from politics after the Thai Rak Thai party was dissolved by court order. He re-emerged as the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party in 2012, turning it into a power broker through rural support and playing the role of kingmaker in coalition governments. Between 2019 and 2023, Anutin served as health minister, and from 2023 until becoming prime minister, he was interior minister. The savvy politician cultivated strong ties with both military-linked conservatives and local patronage networks.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-s-new-prime-minister-have-enough-support-anutin-1757053568679/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-s-new-prime-minister-have-enough-support-anutin-1757053568679/embed</a></p><h2>How Anutin became the force behind Thailand's cannabis revolution</h2><p>Anutin was one of the major voices favouring legislation to legalise cannabis. His view was that it could reduce prison overcrowding — over 80 per cent of inmates were jailed for drug-related offences.</p><p>He argued that legal cannabis would alleviate rural poverty and sought to position cannabis and hemp as “cash crops” that would boost both agriculture and tourism.</p><p>In a party stunt during the 2022 election campaign, Anutin’s party gave away one million free cannabis plants. He even wore a marijuana-leaf print shirt to vote in the 2023 election.</p><p>He was mostly proven right. The legalisation of cannabis attracted more foreign tourists and empowered many farmers.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anutin-charnvirakul-elected-as-new-thailand-pm-amid-political-shake-up-who-is-he-1757066908533">Anutin Charnvirakul elected as new Thailand PM amid political shake-up. Who is he?</a></p><h2>Cannabis legalisation in Thailand: Major milestones</h2><p>In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to legalise medical cannabis. It was decriminalised in 2022, making Thailand the first Asian country to allow recreational use.</p><p>The legalisation led to a boom, with over 11,200 cannabis dispensaries opened across the country by 2025. Cannabis is projected to become a $9.6 billion industry by 2030. Cannabis tourism surged, especially in hubs like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/thousands-gather-to-smoke-up-at-thailands-first-legal-cannabis-festival-487790">Thousands gather to 'smoke up' at Thailand's first fully legal cannabis festival</a></p><h2>But Thailand's cannabis legalisation faced backlash</h2><p>In recent years, however, there has been social and political pressure to roll back some of the reforms due to youth misuse, unregulated access, and black market exports.</p><p>The former prime minister, Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party, tried to recriminalise cannabis amid the pressure. Anutin, then still in the ruling coalition, opposed the recriminalisation, instead seeking stricter medical oversight.</p><p>Some restrictions are in place now: Cannabis buds were reclassified as 'controlled herbs', and medical use is allowed only with a prescription. Recreational use is practically banned, but enforcement remains inconsistent.</p><p>Anutin has said that his intention was never to allow unregulated recreational use, but to enable "medicinal and economic empowerment".</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-moves-ahead-to-ban-recreational-marijuana-use-with-draft-bill-687727">Thailand moves ahead to ban recreational marijuana use with draft bill</a></p><h2>Anutin’s legacy will be linked to cannabis</h2><p>Anutin has taken over as PM at a time of economic slowdown due to global trade tensions and political instability, which saw five prime ministers removed in 17 years. The cannabis industry he promoted is in limbo, caught between business potential and conservative social backlash.</p><p>For better or worse, Anutin will be tied to the cannabis revolution which made him a household name.</p>

Anutin Charnvirakul, dubbed Thailand’s “Cannabis King,” rose to power after leading the country’s bold cannabis decriminalisation. The hemp reform boosted tourism and rural income, propelling Anutin to PMamid political turmoil and regulatory backlash.

New Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s journey from a political outsider to the top of Thailand’s power structure is inseparable from one of the most radical policy experiments in Southeast Asia in which he played a crucial role: cannabis legalisation. The so-called 'Cannabis King' of Thailand was one of the forces behind Thailand's boldest drug reform, which made recreational use of cannabis legal. Anutin leveraged his controversial but popular stance into national prominence. Anutin won 311 parliamentary votes after the ousting of Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In order to get support from the opposition People’s Party, Anutin pledged fresh elections within four months, constitutional reforms, and possibly a referendum. Anutin Charnvirakul, the new Thailand PM: What you should know The 58-year-old business executive-turned-politician holds an engineering degree from Hofstra University in New York. Anutin is the major shareholder and former president of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, which was involved in major infrastructure projects like Suvarnabhumi Airport. The royalist businessman is a pragmatic conservative. He is a Buddhist amulet collector and a licensed pilot. Anutin once flew organs for emergency transplants. Anutin Charnvirakul: Political career Anutin was the deputy health minister under Thaksin Shinawatra in 2004. He was later banned from politics after the Thai Rak Thai party was dissolved by court order. He re-emerged as the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party in 2012, turning it into a power broker through rural support and playing the role of kingmaker in coalition governments. Between 2019 and 2023, Anutin served as health minister, and from 2023 until becoming prime minister, he was interior minister. The savvy politician cultivated strong ties with both military-linked conservatives and local patronage networks. https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-s-new-prime-minister-have-enough-support-anutin-1757053568679/embed How Anutin became the force behind Thailand's cannabis revolution Anutin was one of the major voices favouring legislation to legalise cannabis. His view was that it could reduce prison overcrowding — over 80 per cent of inmates were jailed for drug-related offences. He argued that legal cannabis would alleviate rural poverty and sought to position cannabis and hemp as “cash crops” that would boost both agriculture and tourism. In a party stunt during the 2022 election campaign, Anutin’s party gave away one million free cannabis plants. He even wore a marijuana-leaf print shirt to vote in the 2023 election. He was mostly proven right. The legalisation of cannabis attracted more foreign tourists and empowered many farmers. Also read: Anutin Charnvirakul elected as new Thailand PM amid political shake-up. Who is he? Cannabis legalisation in Thailand: Major milestones In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to legalise medical cannabis. It was decriminalised in 2022, making Thailand the first Asian country to allow recreational use. The legalisation led to a boom, with over 11,200 cannabis dispensaries opened across the country by 2025. Cannabis is projected to become a $9.6 billion industry by 2030. Cannabis tourism surged, especially in hubs like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya. Also read: Thousands gather to 'smoke up' at Thailand's first fully legal cannabis festival But Thailand's cannabis legalisation faced backlash In recent years, however, there has been social and political pressure to roll back some of the reforms due to youth misuse, unregulated access, and black market exports. The former prime minister, Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party, tried to recriminalise cannabis amid the pressure. Anutin, then still in the ruling coalition, opposed the recriminalisation, instead seeking stricter medical oversight. Some restrictions are in place now: Cannabis buds were reclassified as 'controlled herbs', and medical use is allowed only with a prescription. Recreational use is practically banned, but enforcement remains inconsistent. Anutin has said that his intention was never to allow unregulated recreational use, but to enable "medicinal and economic empowerment". Also read: Thailand moves ahead to ban recreational marijuana use with draft bill Anutin’s legacy will be linked to cannabis Anutin has taken over as PM at a time of economic slowdown due to global trade tensions and political instability, which saw five prime ministers removed in 17 years. The cannabis industry he promoted is in limbo, caught between business potential and conservative social backlash. For better or worse, Anutin will be tied to the cannabis revolution which made him a household name.

<p>Anutin Charnvirakul, dubbed Thailand’s “Cannabis King,” rose to power after leading the country’s bold cannabis decriminalisation. The hemp reform boosted tourism and rural income, propelling Anutin to PMamid political turmoil and regulatory backlash.</p>

'Cannabis king' to Thailand prime minister: Anutin Charnvirakuls' political rise linked to nation's hemp legalisation revolution

<p>Thailand has turned a fresh political page with the election of Anutin Charnvirakul as the country’s new prime minister, ending a turbulent week that saw the abrupt removal of his predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, secured a comfortable majority in parliament to claim the top job. His victory followed a dramatic realignment of alliances, with the People’s Party offering its backing in exchange for a commitment to pursue constitutional reforms and call a general election within four months. The arrangement ensures Anutin will head a minority government but with enough support to survive confidence votes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-s-new-prime-minister-thaksin-shinawatra-leaves-thailand-1757065268844/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-s-new-prime-minister-thaksin-shinawatra-leaves-thailand-1757065268844/embed</a></p><h2>Who is Anutin Charnvirakul?</h2><p>At 58, Anutin is no stranger to Thai politics. The son of a wealthy construction tycoon, he began his career in the orbit of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra before charting his own course. Over the years, he has served in multiple ministerial positions, including as health minister during the pandemic. He gained international attention in 2022 when he pushed through the legalisation of cannabis, earning both praise as a reformist and criticism for lax regulation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>His rise comes at the expense of the Shinawatra family, long dominant in Thai politics. Paetongtarn’s removal by the Constitutional Court over an ethics case, and Thaksin’s sudden departure abroad ahead of a looming court ruling, mark another setback for the dynasty.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For many Thais, Anutin represents pragmatism over ideology. His ability to strike deals across the political spectrum has brought him this far, but challenges lie ahead. Economic uncertainty, simmering street protests, and the demand for genuine constitutional change will test his leadership almost immediately. Royal endorsement is expected in the coming days, formally confirming him as Thailand’s 31st prime minister. Whether he becomes a stabilizer or a caretaker on the road to fresh elections will shape Thailand’s political future.</p>

Anutin Charnvirakul elected as new Thailand PM amid political shake-up. Who is he?

Thailand has turned a fresh political page with the election of Anutin Charnvirakul as the country’s new prime minister, ending a turbulent week that saw the abrupt removal of his predecessor Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, secured a comfortable majority in parliament to claim the top job. His victory followed a dramatic realignment of alliances, with the People’s Party offering its backing in exchange for a commitment to pursue constitutional reforms and call a general election within four months. The arrangement ensures Anutin will head a minority government but with enough support to survive confidence votes. https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-s-new-prime-minister-thaksin-shinawatra-leaves-thailand-1757065268844/embed Who is Anutin Charnvirakul? At 58, Anutin is no stranger to Thai politics. The son of a wealthy construction tycoon, he began his career in the orbit of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra before charting his own course. Over the years, he has served in multiple ministerial positions, including as health minister during the pandemic. He gained international attention in 2022 when he pushed through the legalisation of cannabis, earning both praise as a reformist and criticism for lax regulation. His rise comes at the expense of the Shinawatra family, long dominant in Thai politics. Paetongtarn’s removal by the Constitutional Court over an ethics case, and Thaksin’s sudden departure abroad ahead of a looming court ruling, mark another setback for the dynasty. For many Thais, Anutin represents pragmatism over ideology. His ability to strike deals across the political spectrum has brought him this far, but challenges lie ahead. Economic uncertainty, simmering street protests, and the demand for genuine constitutional change will test his leadership almost immediately. Royal endorsement is expected in the coming days, formally confirming him as Thailand’s 31st prime minister. Whether he becomes a stabilizer or a caretaker on the road to fresh elections will shape Thailand’s political future.

<p>Anutin Charnvirakul became the new prime minister of Thailand after he beat Chaikasem Nitisiri in a parliamentary vote. Anutin got 250 votes in the lower house</p>

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'Cannabis king' to Thailand prime minister: Anutin Charnvirakuls' political rise linked to nation's hemp legalisation revolution

Anutin Charnvirakul elected as new Thailand PM. Who is he?