Thailand has begun prohibiting the sale of cannabis to individuals without a prescription, three years after becoming the first Asian country to decriminalize the plant. The new regulation, signed by Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin and effective from Thursday upon publication in the Royal Gazette, forbids shops from selling cannabis to customers lacking prescriptions and reclassifies cannabis buds as a controlled herb.
Violators of this rule may face up to one year in jail and a fine of 20,000 baht (around $614). The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, responsible for enforcing cannabis regulations, held an online meeting with officials nationwide to prepare for the changes.
Licensed shops may continue operating but must source their cannabis products from pharmaceutical-grade farms certified by the department. These farms are required to have selling licenses and must report product sources monthly. Shops can only sell limited amounts to prescription holders, enough for personal use for up to 30 days.
Officials are developing clear guidelines on how prescriptions for cannabis will be handled and how the new rules will be enforced. While shops will be given time to adapt, the exact adjustment period was not specified.
Cannabis advocate Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, formerly a dispensary owner in Bangkok, noted widespread confusion about the new rules, with some officials reportedly unsure how to proceed. She said many shop owners are anxious and fearful about the sudden changes.
The initial move to decriminalize cannabis in 2022 had boosted tourism and farming sectors and led to thousands of shops opening across Thailand. However, the government faced backlash over concerns that poor regulation allowed drug access to children and increased addiction rates.
Health Ministry spokesperson Treechada Srithada emphasized that cannabis use in Thailand will now be strictly for medical purposes. She warned that shops violating the order will be shut down, and future licensing will involve stricter approval processes. Currently, about 18,000 shops hold cannabis selling licenses.
Chopaka argued that existing regulations already covered these controls but were poorly enforced. She suggested the sudden tightening of rules was politically motivated, urging authorities to focus first on enforcing current laws before introducing more complex changes that confuse stakeholders.
The ruling Pheu Thai Party had promised to re-criminalize cannabis but met resistance from its former coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, which supported decriminalization. Bhumjaithai recently left the coalition amid political tensions.
This crackdown follows a recent spike in cannabis smuggling cases involving tourists. Health Minister Somsak indicated a desire to eventually reclassify cannabis as a narcotic.
Thailand’s Narcotics Control Board reported a significant increase in cannabis addiction after decriminalization based on a study conducted last year.
In response, a group of cannabis advocates plans to protest at the Health Ministry next month against the new restrictions and any efforts to criminalize cannabis consumption or sales once again.
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