Four years after Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis, its booming market is at a crossroads. Initial high hopes for a tourism surge and a billion-dollar industry have been replaced by an oversupply of shops and a fierce public backlash.

On today’s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg’s Patpicha Tanakasempipat about what went wrong and whether the industry can weather a political firestorm.

Read more: Weed Backlash Grows in Thailand as Kids Turn to Cannabis

Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang, Naomi Ng; Reported by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Edited by Paddy Hirsch, Julia Weaver

Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa

Senior Producer Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer Julia Weaver; Executive Producer Nicole Beemsterboer

Four years after Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis, its booming market is at a crossroads. Initial high hopes for a tourism surge and a billion-dollar industry have been replaced by an oversupply of shops and a fierce public backlash.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take Asia Podcast, host K. Oanh Ha talks to Bloomberg&rsquo;s Patpicha Tanakasempipat about what went wrong and whether the industry can weather a political firestorm.
Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-21/thai-election-thailand-grapples-with-cannabis-law-after-recreational-use-boom?srnd=undefined">Weed Backlash Grows in Thailand as Kids Turn to Cannabis </a>Hosted by K. Oanh Ha; Produced by Yang Yang, Naomi Ng; Reported by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Edited by Paddy Hirsch, Julia Weaver
Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Taka Yasuzawa
Senior Producer Naomi Shavin;&nbsp;Deputy Executive Producer Julia Weaver;&nbsp;Executive Producer&nbsp;Nicole Beemsterboer

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

The Big Take from Bloomberg News brings you inside what’s shaping the world's economies with the smartest and most informed business reporters around the world. The context you need on the stories that can move markets. Every afternoon.

Big Take

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

We’re taking The Big Take to Asia. Each week, Bloomberg’s Oanh Ha tells a story from the home of the world's most dynamic economies - and the markets, tycoons and businesses that drive the ever-shifting region.

Big Take Asia

Behind Thailand’s Push to Recriminalize Cannabis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e123e960-dde9-40b6-9f42-b3e6015c7d85/transcript

On July 1, 2025, the US effectively ended operations of the United States Agency for International Development, the global aid organization founded in 1961, cutting most staff and moving it into the US State Department.

Samantha Power, who led the agency under President Biden until early 2025, joins David Gura on the Big Take podcast to look back at what was lost, internationally and at home.

You can watch their conversation — on Ebola, Iran, Israel and Gaza — on Bloomberg.com.

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott and Aaron Edwards.

Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

On July 1, 2025, the US effectively ended operations of the United States Agency for International Development, the global aid organization founded in 1961, cutting most staff and moving it into the US State Department.
Samantha Power, who led the agency under President Biden until early 2025, joins David Gura on the Big Take podcast to look back at what was lost, internationally and at home.
You can watch their conversation &mdash; on Ebola, Iran, Israel and Gaza &mdash; on <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-06-26/samantha-power-on-trump-s-soft-power-suicide-video">Bloomberg.com</a>.
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by David Fox; Edited by Jeffrey Grocott and Aaron Edwards.
Fact-checking by Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

‘Soft Power Suicide’: Samantha Power on One Year Without USAID

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3e432a15-b605-4448-9823-b475014caae1/transcript

Nearly four months after the war in Iran began, US and Iranian negotiators are trying to turn their cease-fire into lasting peace. But critics of the latest memorandum of understanding say it mostly leaves President Donald Trump where he was before the war started, with many key issues unresolved.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marc Champion on the latest negotiations between the two countries and what foreign powers – from the Gulf to China – will be watching for in a proposed settlement.

Read more:  Trump’s Iran Truce Has the Hallmarks of Defeat

Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Marc Champion; Edited by Julia Weaver and Jeffrey Grocott.

Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Nearly four months after the war in Iran began, US and Iranian negotiators are trying to turn their cease-fire into lasting peace. But critics of the latest memorandum of understanding say it mostly leaves President Donald Trump where he was before the war started, with many key issues unresolved.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Marc Champion on the latest negotiations between the two countries and what foreign powers &ndash; from the Gulf to China &ndash; will be watching for in a proposed settlement.
Read more: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-06-15/iran-us-peace-deal-trump-s-iran-truce-has-the-hallmarks-of-defeat?srnd=undefined">Trump&rsquo;s Iran Truce Has the Hallmarks of Defeat</a>
Hosted by David Gura; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Marc Champion; Edited by Julia Weaver and Jeffrey Grocott.
Fact-checking by Victor Swezey and Laura Newcombe; Engineering by Emma Munger.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Iran’s Leaders Are in No Hurry to Get a Peace Deal

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/6af3cbf1-70ff-41a1-ba09-b47401620c04/transcript

For a growing number of older workers, retirement is no longer feeling so achievable—or appealing. But staying in the workforce or going back to work in your 60s and 70s comes with challenges, for workers and companies.

On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s Stacey Vanek Smith talks to the World Economic Forum’s Haleh Nazeri about the factors driving the rise in so-called ‘unretirement.’ And we hear from David Lloyd, a radio presenter who’s trying to give other Boomers a later-in-life career boost.

Read more: When the Best Retirement Is No Retirement at All

We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.

Hosted by Stacey Vanek Smith; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Stacey Vanek Smith; Edited by Aaron Edwards.

Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger.

Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

For a growing number of older workers, retirement is no longer feeling so achievable&mdash;or appealing. But staying in the workforce or going back to work in your 60s and 70s comes with challenges, for workers and companies.
On today&rsquo;s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg&rsquo;s Stacey Vanek Smith talks to the World Economic Forum&rsquo;s Haleh Nazeri about the factors driving the rise in so-called &lsquo;unretirement.&rsquo; And we hear from David Lloyd, a radio presenter who&rsquo;s trying to give other Boomers a later-in-life career boost.
Read more: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-03-17/why-more-people-over-60-are-choosing-not-to-retire">When the Best Retirement Is No Retirement at All</a>
We have a special Bloomberg subscription offer for podcast listeners at <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions/podcasts">Bloomberg.com/podcastoffer.</a>
Hosted by Stacey Vanek Smith; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Stacey Vanek Smith; Edited by Aaron Edwards.
Fact-checking by Victor Swezey; Engineering by Emma Munger.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

What if the Best Retirement is No Retirement at All?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3b299d59-c3d7-44ab-a2cd-b473011acc90/transcript

Behind Thailand’s Push to Recriminalize Cannabis

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