Thailand to Tighten Cannabis Laws with Medical Certification Requirement

Thailand to Tighten Cannabis Laws with Medical Certification Requirement

Thailand will require all cannabis users—locals and foreigners—to present a medical certificate within the next 40 days, as part of new regulations aimed at curbing recreational use. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced the move, marking a shift toward stricter control after the country’s 2022 cannabis decriminalisation. The new bill will mandate licensed medical use only, potentially introducing dosage limits and penalties, including imprisonment for non-compliance. Cannabis businesses will also face new licensing requirements. The change reflects a growing push to frame cannabis strictly as a health-focused product amid rising recreational use and political tension over the drug’s regulation.