BANGKOK, Thailand – Thailand has implemented a significant policy reversal regarding cannabis, prohibiting sales to individuals without a medical prescription effective Friday, June 27, 2025. This move marks a dramatic shift just three years after the Southeast Asian nation became the first in Asia to decriminalize the plant.
The new order, officially signed by Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, was published in the Royal Gazette and took effect on Thursday, June 26, 2025. It mandates that businesses are barred from selling cannabis to customers who cannot present a valid prescription. Furthermore, the regulation reclassifies cannabis buds as a controlled herb, subjecting their sale and use to stricter oversight.
Understanding the New Regulations
Under the provisions of the new order, violations carry substantial penalties. According to the 1999 Act of Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom, individuals or entities found selling cannabis without a prescription face potential consequences including up to one year in jail and a fine of up to 20,000 baht (approximately $614 USD).
The responsibility for enforcing this nationwide policy rests with the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Recognizing the complexity and scale of the change, the department held a crucial meeting on Friday, June 27, with officials from across the country to coordinate and prepare for the implementation of the new restrictions.
Impact on Existing Cannabis Businesses
Thailand’s cannabis landscape has flourished since decriminalization, with approximately 18,000 licensed shops operating nationwide. While these existing licensed establishments are permitted to continue operations under the new rules, they must adhere to stringent new sourcing requirements.
Specifically, these shops are now mandated to procure their cannabis products exclusively from farms that have been certified as pharmaceutical-grade by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Additionally, shops must report their sources of supply to the department on a monthly basis, enhancing traceability and regulatory oversight. The certified farms supplying cannabis are also required to hold a specific license to sell the plant.
Sales to individuals holding valid medical prescriptions are permitted, but the quantity is limited to a 30-day personal supply, a measure designed to prevent stockpiling and curb potential illicit distribution.
Official Justification and Future Outlook
The government’s justification for the policy reversal centers on public health and control. Health Ministry spokesperson Treechada Srithada stated on Thursday, June 26, that the new measures would ensure cannabis use in Thailand would become “fully for medical purposes,” signaling an end to the recreational use that burgeoned following decriminalization.
Non-compliant shops face closure, and future license approvals are expected to have significantly stricter requirements than those previously in place.
Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin has publicly indicated a desire to potentially take further action, stating on Tuesday, June 24, that he hopes to eventually relist cannabis as a narcotic. This sentiment is reportedly influenced by a study conducted by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, which the Minister cited as finding a significant increase in cannabis addiction cases following the decriminalization of the plant.
Reactions and Challenges
The swift implementation of these new regulations has not been without its challenges and opposition. Reports indicate confusion among both government officials tasked with enforcement and the owners of cannabis shops who must navigate the sudden operational changes.
In response to the stricter controls and the potential move towards outright recriminalization, cannabis advocates are planning to organize a rally at the Health Ministry next month. The protest aims to voice opposition to the new restrictions and any further steps to classify cannabis as a narcotic once more.
The tighter regulations also follow a reported increase in cases involving cannabis smuggling, particularly among tourists, suggesting that border control and international implications may have played a role in the government’s decision to reinstate stricter controls.
This policy shift marks a pivotal moment in Thailand’s approach to cannabis, rolling back liberties introduced just three years prior and re-establishing a framework centered squarely on medical applications under close government supervision.
