Just 2 meth pills could soon be enough to classify drug users as dealers in Thailand

Two tablets of methamphetamine: That’s all it would take for Thai authorities to charge and imprison someone as a drug dealer under new proposed regulations recently announced by the country’s Ministry of Public Health.

Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s Minister of Public Health and deputy prime minister, told an addiction treatment and rehabilitation committee last week that he would toughen drug laws so that anyone found in possession of more than one meth pill—known locally as “yaba”—would be viewed as a dealer rather than a user, and therefore subject to harsh penalties including imprisonment.

Current laws state that those found with 15 or fewer pills in their possession are regarded as having them for personal use, rather than intent to sell, and are therefore subject to rehabilitation rather than severe convictions. But Anutin believes dealers are exploiting this as a loophole—one he wants to close.