Thailand’s new PM: The ‘cannabis king’ takes the crown

Thailand’s legislature has elected Anutin Charnvirakul, 58, as the next prime minister.

Anutin’s political career traces back to Thai Rak Thai, the movement established by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2004, he was appointed deputy health minister before moving to the commerce portfolio later that year, and he returned to the health ministry in 2005.

He rose to prominence as health minister during the COVID-19 crisis, directing lockdown measures, vaccine acquisition and patient care. His leadership was widely recognized for helping reopen Thailand to foreign visitors, a lifeline for the country’s economy.

More recently, Anutin has served as the interior minister in the Pheu Thai-led coalition, a position he has held since 2023. He is also known for championing cannabis reform, a cause he symbolized by wearing a shirt emblazoned with marijuana leaves when voting in the 2023 election.

Popularly known by the nickname «Noo,» or «mouse,» Anutin comes from a politically connected family. His father, Chavarat Charnvirakul, once served as caretaker prime minister, while the family’s construction company, Stecon Group, built the parliamentary complex in Bangkok.

Anutin studied industrial engineering at Hofstra University in New York before returning to Thailand.