Thailand will ban the recreational use of marijuana by the end of 2024, reversing its progressive drug policy introduced just two years earlier. In this episode first aired in 2022, Dateline looked at the reasons why Thailand relaxed its tough drug laws in the first place and met those on the frontline of the country's drug war. 00:00 Intro 01:56 Why Thailand legalised cannabis in 2022 03:22 Inside Thailand's first legal weed cafe 05:13 An elite task force fighting drug trafficking from across the border 07:22 The most problematic drug in Thailand 08:34 The region where most of Australia's meth is coming from 13:11 The effects of abundant and cheap drugs on one village 16:11 How Thailand's hardline drug policy overwhelmed the prison system and what has changed 19:47 A lifeline for thousands of former inmates 24:02 A social worker's view on Thailand's drug war Subscribe to Dateline: https://bit.ly/3gkQHtr Website http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DatelineSBS/ Twitter https://twitter.com/datelinesbs Instagram https://www.instagram.com/datelinesbs/ Watch more Dateline, SBS 9.30pm Tuesday, and on SBS On Demand. Dateline is an Australian award-winning international documentary series with a current affairs backbone. Every week we transport you to a different part of the world to share half-hour stories about family, social injustice, identity, tragedy, redemption and survival. We scour the globe to bring you special characters and a world of daring stories. Network Terms & Conditions: https://www.sbs.com.au/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.sbs.com.au/privacy Feedback or complaints: https://www.sbs.com.au/complaints