Jason Adelstone to Speak at AIHEF 2025 in Bangkok on Thailand’s Cannabis Reform Trajectory
US attorney to address how Thailand’s cannabis sector could become an Asian medical-cannabis hub amid regulatory uncertainty
On Wednesday, November 5, Jason Adelstone, attorney with Harris Sliwoski LLP, will present at the Asia International Hemp Forum 2025 (AIHEF) in Bangkok.
His topic: how a well-regulated Thai cannabis industry could emerge as a leading medical supplier and reform catalyst for Asia, even as Thailand’s current rescheduling approach—lacking a robust regulatory framework—risks limiting access to global medical markets.
Adelstone will participate in a panel titled “Market Access & Import Requirements for Thai Medical Cannabis: Regulatory Updates Across Key Regions,” joined by international experts including Anthony Traurig and Olivia Ewenike.
His commentary reflects on how Thailand’s strategy—to reschedule cannabis without full regulatory guard-rails—could undermine the country’s ambition to serve both domestic and global markets in medical and adult-use wellness sectors.
The presentation comes against a backdrop of shifting Thai policy.
After a boom following de-criminalisation in 2022, the government announced in mid-2025 new rules restricting cannabis flower to medical use, raising concerns among industry participants about Thailand’s global competitiveness.
Adelstone argues that as more countries liberalise cannabis and evolve their legal interpretations, Thailand’s window to participate in major scientific and export markets remains open—provided it acts strategically.
His remarks at AIHEF signal that Thailand’s cannabis journey is at a crossroads: either it will shape a regulated, export-oriented pathway or become a cautionary example exploited by opponents of reform.
Alongside regulatory reform, Adelstone highlights the need to link Thai policy to international legal frameworks and marketplace expectations, using Thailand as a potential model for a region yet to fully embrace medical and wellness cannabis markets.
With Asia’s cannabis landscape evolving rapidly, Adelstone’s address will be closely watched by investors, policymakers and industry stakeholders alike as Thailand seeks to reset its policy and capture opportunity in a changing global environment.
His topic: how a well-regulated Thai cannabis industry could emerge as a leading medical supplier and reform catalyst for Asia, even as Thailand’s current rescheduling approach—lacking a robust regulatory framework—risks limiting access to global medical markets.
Adelstone will participate in a panel titled “Market Access & Import Requirements for Thai Medical Cannabis: Regulatory Updates Across Key Regions,” joined by international experts including Anthony Traurig and Olivia Ewenike.
His commentary reflects on how Thailand’s strategy—to reschedule cannabis without full regulatory guard-rails—could undermine the country’s ambition to serve both domestic and global markets in medical and adult-use wellness sectors.
The presentation comes against a backdrop of shifting Thai policy.
After a boom following de-criminalisation in 2022, the government announced in mid-2025 new rules restricting cannabis flower to medical use, raising concerns among industry participants about Thailand’s global competitiveness.
Adelstone argues that as more countries liberalise cannabis and evolve their legal interpretations, Thailand’s window to participate in major scientific and export markets remains open—provided it acts strategically.
His remarks at AIHEF signal that Thailand’s cannabis journey is at a crossroads: either it will shape a regulated, export-oriented pathway or become a cautionary example exploited by opponents of reform.
Alongside regulatory reform, Adelstone highlights the need to link Thai policy to international legal frameworks and marketplace expectations, using Thailand as a potential model for a region yet to fully embrace medical and wellness cannabis markets.
With Asia’s cannabis landscape evolving rapidly, Adelstone’s address will be closely watched by investors, policymakers and industry stakeholders alike as Thailand seeks to reset its policy and capture opportunity in a changing global environment.
