BANGKOK, May 21 -- Thai officials on Wednesday said that they planned to tighten regulations on cannabis sales after cases of tourists attempting to smuggle the drug out of the country soared in recent months.

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, which has boosted Thailand's tourism and farming and spawned thousands of shops.

But it's facing public backlash over allegations that under-regulation has made the drug available to children and caused addiction, reports AP.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has promised to criminalize the drugs again, but faced strong resistance from its partner in the coalition government which supported the decriminalization.

Thailand's Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin sai...