Bangkok, Thailand – Thailand’s burgeoning cannabis industry faces a significant upheaval following the announcement of stringent new regulations that could force the closure of thousands of retailers across the country. Under draft ministerial regulations from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), an estimated 12,000 existing cannabis flower retailers may be unable to continue operations due to requirements mandating the presence of specific medical professionals on-site and limiting sales to prescription only.
Understanding the Regulatory Shift
Thailand made headlines in 2022 by becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to decriminalize cannabis. This move sparked a rapid proliferation of dispensaries, clinics, and related businesses, transforming street corners and tourist areas into vibrant, albeit sometimes unregulated, cannabis hubs. However, the lack of clear, comprehensive regulations governing its sale and use, particularly concerning recreational purposes, has been a subject of intense debate and concern among public health officials and policymakers.
The new framework signals a significant pivot towards a more medically focused model for cannabis distribution, particularly regarding the sale of dried flower, the most common product sought by consumers. The core requirement under the proposed rules is that cannabis flower can only be dispensed upon presentation of a valid prescription, issued by qualified medical practitioners. This moves away from the current environment where flower is often sold over the counter without any medical consultation.
The Imminent Notification
The catalyst for this impending change was a key announcement made by Dr Somruek Chungsaman, Director-General of the DTAM. On June 30, 2025, Dr Chungsaman confirmed that a new departmental notification specifically addressing cannabis flower prescriptions is imminent. This notification, once formally published in the Royal Gazette, Thailand’s official public journal, will carry the force of law, immediately altering the operating landscape for retailers.
Stricter Prescription Requirements Detailed
The forthcoming notification introduces a significantly stricter and more detailed prescription form compared to any current informal practices. To ensure accountability and medical oversight, the new form will require the clear identification and license numbers of the certifying professional. Crucially, only practitioners from seven designated fields will be authorized to issue these prescriptions:
* General Medicine
* Thai Traditional Medicine
* Applied Thai Traditional Medicine
* Dentistry
* Pharmacy
* Chinese Traditional Medicine practitioners
* Folk Doctors
Furthermore, the prescription form must document detailed patient information, including their name, age, nationality, ID card number, and diagnosis for which the cannabis is being prescribed. The quantity of cannabis flower prescribed will also be strictly limited to a supply not exceeding 30 days.
Navigating the Transition Challenges
The transition to this new, highly regulated system is already presenting challenges. As of the announcement date, only two of the seven designated professional bodies – the Medical Council and Thai Traditional Medicine – have established clear guidelines and procedures for their members to issue prescriptions under the new rules. This creates a bottleneck in the system.
Consequently, cannabis shops wishing to operate legally under the new framework can currently only accept prescriptions issued by general medical doctors and Thai traditional medical practitioners. Retailers who have established relationships with or rely on prescriptions from professionals in the other five designated fields face uncertainty and potential closure until guidelines for those specific groups are developed and implemented.
Industry Impact and Future Outlook
The potential closure of up to 12,000 retailers represents a massive contraction for an industry that has seen explosive growth since decriminalization. Many small businesses and entrepreneurs invested heavily based on the previous relaxed regulatory environment. This sudden shift could lead to significant financial losses, job displacement, and a consolidation of the market, potentially favouring larger operators better positioned to meet the stringent compliance requirements, including the ability to employ or contract certified medical personnel.
Observers suggest this move reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to regain control over the cannabis landscape, aiming to steer it firmly towards medical and health-related purposes while curbing recreational use, which remains a contentious issue. The economic impact extends beyond retailers to cultivators, processors, and related service providers who face a dramatically smaller legal market for cannabis flower.
The industry now watches anxiously for the publication of the notification in the Royal Gazette and the subsequent development of guidelines by the remaining professional bodies. The speed and clarity with which these guidelines are implemented will be critical in determining the ultimate scale of disruption and the future trajectory of Thailand’s evolving cannabis market.
