Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced Tuesday that cannabis use in Thailand will soon be restricted exclusively to medical purposes, as part of a new regulatory framework aimed at addressing widespread concerns over unregulated cannabis consumption.
Under the upcoming regulation, individuals wishing to purchase cannabis will be required to present a doctor’s prescription along with a medical certificate specifying their condition. The minister did not confirm when the new rules would take effect.
Somlerk Jeungsmarn, director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, said on Monday that authorities would allow a grace period before implementing the changes to give all relevant parties time to prepare.
Mr. Somsak also confirmed that cannabis will soon be reclassified as a narcotic. He noted that the current regulatory confusion stems from its previous classification as a “controlled herb” under the Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Protection Act.
While that designation permitted the opening of cannabis shops and cultivation, it lacked provisions specifically governing medical use.
The minister said the move followed instructions from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to engage in discussions with her advisory team. Those talks, which began on May 14, concluded with the consensus that cannabis use must be limited to medical purposes only.
Public hearings were conducted between May 22 and June 10 to gather feedback, and the majority of participants reportedly supported the shift toward strictly medical use.
In tandem with the restriction, new regulations will govern cannabis-related businesses. Each shop will be required to employ a licensed medical professional and undergo monthly inspections.
Shops found violating the rules on two occasions will have their licences revoked, Mr. Somsak said.
The new rules will be implemented through a ministerial regulation, which must also undergo public consultation. Mr. Somsak said all required steps have been completed in line with the prime minister’s directive.
Commenting on the Bhumjaithai Party’s (BJT) efforts to push through its Cannabis Control Bill, Mr. Somsak dismissed its chances under the current administration, calling it “just a dream.”
He explained that the bill was a result of the 2021 Narcotics Code, which removed cannabis and kratom from Category 5 drugs and gave the public health minister the authority to regulate them, with input from the Narcotics Control Board.
However, he said the failure to issue clear regulations within the required 120-day period led to an explosion of unregulated cannabis shops across the country.
Mr. Somsak rejected accusations that the government’s current crackdown is politically motivated following BJT’s withdrawal from the coalition. “This is not political. It’s a chronic problem.
There were many complaints, particularly during the administration of then-prime minister Srettha Thavisin,” he said. “We are trying to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic.”
In response, BJT figure Supachai Jaisamut renewed his call for urgent enactment of the cannabis control bill, accusing the Public Health Ministry under Pheu Thai of negligence that led to the unchecked spread of cannabis use.
Mr. Supachai reiterated that BJT has consistently supported cannabis use for medical purposes since 2019. He also pointed out that the 2021 delisting of cannabis from the Narcotics Code was approved by parliament, including support from Pheu Thai MPs.
