The Thai government is attempting to put the cannabis genie back in the bottle. Photo credit: Rostislav Kralik, CC0.
Thailand’s cannabis “free-for-all” took a sharp U-turn when, in late June, health minister Somsak Thepsuthin issued a transformative ministerial order—published in the Royal Gazette on June 23—reclassifying cannabis flower as a controlled substance. From that moment, recreational sales without a Thai-issued medical prescription became illegal.
This marks a dramatic reversal of Thailand’s 2022 move, when it became the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis. That liberalization led to a boom—fueled by an estimated 18,000‑plus dispensaries and a projected US$1.2 billion market—driven by domestic and tourist demand. But the lack of regulation soon spurred concerns: underage access, rising dependency cases, and smuggling incidents involving tourists rippled across the nation.
Under the new frame:
- Only individuals with legitimate prescriptions from licensed medical professionals—doctors, dentists, pharmacists, or traditional medicine practitioners—may legally purchase cannabis, limited to a 30‑day supply.
- Licensed shops must source from sources certified under Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine; submit regular reports documenting the source, intended use, and quantity stored; and restrict sales exclusively to prescription holders.
- Unauthorized vending—such as online sales, vending machines, public advertising, or display in parks and temples—is strictly banned.
Critics, such as pro-cannabis groups like the Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network, slam the move as politically motivated, benefiting large operators, and denying legitimate users access. Small dispensary owners warn many outlets will collapse, narrowing supply under heavy monopoly risk.
Consumer advocates argue that instead of abrupt norms, Thailand needs a comprehensive Cannabis Act—something in development since 2024, with debated enforcement pending parliamentary approval.
With a mass protest planned for July 7 in front of the Ministry of Public Health, cannabis advocates are calling for the passage of a comprehensive Cannabis Act to regulate the industry, rather than pushing it back underground.
Thailand’s dramatic policy reversal marks the latest chapter in the country’s cannabis saga—once hailed as a bold Asian experiment, now a cautionary tale of reform without regulation.