Bangkok, Thailand – Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has enacted a significant policy shift regarding cannabis, officially classifying cannabis flower buds as a “controlled herb” under a new ministerial notification. This move, effective June 26, 2025, establishes a stringent regulatory framework requiring official authorization and a valid prescription from licensed medical professionals for the sale of these parts of the cannabis plant.
The decision marks a crucial step in the government’s effort to tighten control over cannabis following its decriminalization in 2022. While the broader plant was delisted from the narcotics category, concerns over widespread recreational use and unregulated sales have persisted. The new classification specifically targets the flower buds, which contain the highest concentration of psychoactive compounds, aiming to steer their use towards legitimate medical purposes and ensure availability is limited to supervised patients.
The New Regulation and Its Implications
The Ministerial Notification on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) 2025 is the instrument formalizing this classification. By designating cannabis flower buds as a controlled herb, the notification places them under the direct regulatory purview of the Ministry of Public Health. This designation is not merely semantic; it carries concrete legal requirements.
Effective from the specified date of June 26, 2025, any individual or entity wishing to sell cannabis flower buds will be legally required to obtain official authorization from the relevant authorities within the Ministry of Public Health. Furthermore, each transaction involving cannabis flower buds must be accompanied by a valid prescription issued by a qualified and licensed healthcare professional. This could include doctors, dentists, traditional Thai medicine practitioners, and other licensed medical personnel authorized to prescribe herbal treatments.
The primary objective, as stated by the Ministry, is to channel the use of cannabis flower buds towards therapeutic applications. By necessitating a medical gatekeeper – the licensed professional issuing the prescription – the government aims to ensure that access is primarily for patients with specific medical conditions who can benefit from its medicinal properties, under appropriate supervision.
Stakeholder Engagement and Endorsement
The implementation of this notification was preceded by discussions with key stakeholders in the cannabis industry. On June 25, 2025, representatives from cannabis business operators engaged with Ministry officials to address concerns and clarify the implications of the new rules. These discussions facilitated dialogue between the regulators and those directly affected by the policy changes.
Following these consultations, stakeholders, including Dr Thewan Thanirat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, expressed their support for the emphasis on medical use. Dr. Thanirat, a prominent figure in the traditional and alternative medicine sector which has integrated cannabis into certain treatments, was among those who endorsed the ministerial notification. The notification itself was signed by Public Health Minister Somsak, signifying the government’s official commitment to this regulatory direction.
This alignment between the Ministry and key figures in the traditional and alternative medicine field underscores the intent to integrate controlled cannabis use within established healthcare practices, moving away from the largely unregulated market that emerged post-decriminalization.
Path to Full Implementation: Licensing and Standards
While the notification classifying flower buds as a controlled herb takes effect on June 26, 2025, the full regulatory framework, particularly concerning licensing for sales, is still under development. The Ministry of Public Health is actively preparing a comprehensive ministerial regulation that will outline the specific criteria and procedures for obtaining the necessary authorization or license to sell cannabis flower buds.
This forthcoming regulation is a critical piece of the puzzle, detailing everything from eligible businesses and required documentation to facility standards and compliance measures. The drafting process for this regulation involves several layers of legal and governmental review.
Expected to undergo rigorous legal scrutiny by the Council of State, Thailand’s primary legal advisory body, the draft regulation will then require ministerial comments and internal approvals before being submitted for Cabinet approval. Following Cabinet endorsement, it will require the final signature of the Public Health Minister to become law. This multi-stage process is expected to take several months, indicating that while the classification is imminent, the detailed licensing requirements will follow.
In addition to controlling who can sell and who can buy (via prescription), the new framework also incorporates measures aimed at ensuring the quality and safety of the cannabis flower buds entering the legal supply chain. Key changes under the notification include the explicit requirement that cannabis flower buds must be sourced only from cultivation sites that have been officially certified by the relevant authorities. Furthermore, the products must meet recognized standards, which are expected to cover aspects like purity, contaminant levels, and potency, although the specific standards will likely be elaborated in the subsequent regulations.
Looking Ahead
The classification of cannabis flower buds as a controlled herb requiring prescriptions and authorization represents a significant recalibration of Thailand’s approach to cannabis regulation. It signals a clear intent to curb recreational availability and prioritize medical applications under professional oversight. While the notification lays the foundation, the success and impact of this policy will heavily depend on the details of the upcoming licensing regulation and the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms. The coming months will be crucial as the Ministry navigates the complex process of finalizing and implementing the full regulatory regime for this increasingly significant controlled herb.
