Thailand tightens cannabis laws & shifts focus to medical use only

Thailand has begun a major shift in its cannabis policy. As of June 27, 2025, selling cannabis without a doctor’s prescription is now banned.

This change comes just three years after Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise the drug.

The new regulation, signed by Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin on June 23, 2025, took effect four days later after its publication in the Royal Gazette. Under the rule, cannabis can now be sold only for medical purposes, and buyers must present a valid prescription from one of seven approved types of medical professionals.

Shops are also required to source cannabis exclusively from certified farms and must report their stock to the government every month. Violations can result in up to one year in jail or a fine of THB20,000 (US$614).

Advertising the drug is also prohibited.

The move follows growing concerns over increased youth access and cannabis addiction since the 2022 decriminalisation, which triggered a rapid surge in cannabis shops, now estimated at around 18,000.

The government is also planning to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, further tightening control.

Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board also mentioned how a study last year found cannabis addiction rose sharply after it was decriminalised.

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However, the policy shift has sparked concern.

The post-decriminalisation boom in 2022 led to the opening of thousands of shops and contributed to growth in tourism and local farming.

Now, an estimated 12,000 shops may be forced to shut down if they cannot meet the stricter medical licensing requirements.

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To improve patient access, a Digital Medicinal Cannabis Card was launched on June 27, supported by prescriptions from Thai traditional medicine doctors.

Still, uncertainty looms within the industry. “Owners are freaking out, a lot of them are scared,” said cannabis advocate Chokwan Chopaka.

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She believes the existing rules already addressed key concerns around cannabis, and that the real issue was enforcement, not the need for new restrictions.

“We know we need regulation. We need control. The existing rule that is in the announcement previously needs to be enforced. Can we enforce that first? Before we move on to something that is harder and people don’t understand what’s going on,” she stated.

[Via: AP News]

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.