This has since led to widespread recreational use from locals and visitors.
However, the country is far from being as relaxed in law and attitude as cities like Amsterdam.
Those caught smoking in public in Thailand still risk a three-month jail sentence or a fine of up to 25,000 baht (NZ$1115).
Charnvirakul seems to have timed his comments as international tourism picks up in Thailand.
As Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, they expect 8 to 10 million international arrivals in 2022.
It is a fraction of the foreign arrivals they welcomed in 2019 (almost 40 million) but is a huge improvement on the 428,000 they had in 2021.
The cannabis industry in Thailand
To date, Thailand has focused on cannabis' health and medical benefits, and invested 28 million baht into the industry.
Its policy has incited interest from nearby neighbours like Malaysia, which is studying the use of cannabis for medical reasons.
As for recreational use, Charnvirakul said that would be considered "in the near future".
Cannabis Tourism
Elsewhere around the world, cities are all too happy for tourists to pay a visit and light up while they're there.
This has resulted in "cannabis tourism", whereby people visit certain destinations because of their lenient laws around the drug.
The most iconic destination to experience this kind of tourism is Amsterdam. Here, you can walk into a "coffee shop" and purchase marijuana from an extensive menu and enjoy it in the store.
Oregon has also become a popular spot after making recreational marijuana legally available at licensed dispensaries.