Report New Cannabis Regulation: Prescription Required for Sales

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

In a bid to tighten control over cannabis usage, the Public Health Minister has announced new regulations, requiring a medical prescription for all cannabis purchases. This move follows concerns about rising cannabis use since its decriminalisation in 2022.

 

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed the regulation, specifying that only licensed individuals can study, export, sell, or process cannabis buds. These businesses must maintain detailed records about the source, use, and quantity of their cannabis.

 

A significant point in the regulation is the prohibition of smoking on cannabis shop premises without medical supervision. Professionals such as traditional Thai and Chinese medicine practitioners, and dentists, can supervise usage for prescribed patients. However, purchases are limited to a 30-day supply, ensuring controlled distribution.

 

The regulation also includes a ban on selling cannabis through vending machines, online platforms, and all forms of advertising. The aim is to prevent easy access, especially among young people.

 

Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon of the Narcotics Control Board highlighted that cannabis users in Thailand more than doubled from 350,000 in 2019 to over 700,000 last year. This increase, he noted, corresponds with the period following cannabis decriminalisation.

 

These regulations are set to be enforced immediately after publication in the Royal Gazette, marking a significant shift in the management of cannabis sales and use in the country.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-25

 

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Lot of thais gonna go broke because of this..

 

Many have invested heavily in the industry and now it's all going to be wiped away.

 

What times Anutin becoming the next PM?

 

Mark.

[Peabody]

How about growing your own? I don't think I've read anything directly or indirectly addressing this.

[WHansen]

Time will tell how strictly this is enforced. I suspect most sales will now be under the counter as it used to be.

[redwood1]

48 minutes ago, Cornish Pasty said:

Lot of thais gonna go broke because of this..

 

Many have invested heavily in the industry and now it's all going to be wiped away.

 

What times Anutin becoming the next PM?

 

Mark.

 

 

Exactly.... I think there are about 20,000 weed shops and lets say each shop has  one owner and at least 2 employees so thats 60,000 people....And lets throw in another 10,000 for growers and suppliers ........So there is 70,000 minimum people out of work ...

 

 Somsak Thepsuthin had no problem saying Tony was a very sick man who needed 6 months in a hospital but does not seem to give a rats a$$ about putting 70,000 people out of work.....Somsak Thepsuthin has no ethics....Its just who has biggest brown envelope...

[bkk6060]

Not a fan of weed, but feel for the shop owners on this. Stupid and sad change.

[Bert got kinky]

Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon of the Narcotics Control Board highlighted that cannabis users in Thailand more than doubled from 350,000 in 2019 to over 700,000 last year. This increase, he noted, corresponds with the period following cannabis decriminalisation.

 

Is the figure of 350,000 a wild guess or is this the number of known users from arrest records.

If it is an actual amount of known dealers, when you add in the smokers who didn't report their habit to the local police station, I would guess that there would have been more than 700,000 before decriminalisation.

 

And where did he get this 700,000 figure?

Is he including me?

Does he (or his records) even know if I am buying cannabis?

 

 

 

[Magictoad]

51 minutes ago, Peabody said:

How about growing your own? I don't think I've read anything directly or indirectly addressing this.

Forbidden 

[Magictoad]

3 minutes ago, Bert got kinky said:

Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon of the Narcotics Control Board highlighted that cannabis users in Thailand more than doubled from 350,000 in 2019 to over 700,000 last year. This increase, he noted, corresponds with the period following cannabis decriminalisation.

 

Is the figure of 350,000 a wild guess or is this the number of known users from arrest records.

If it is an actual amount of known dealers, when you add in the smokers who didn't report their habit to the local police station, I would guess that there would have been more than 700,000 before decriminalisation.

 

And where did he get this 700,000 figure?

Is he including me?

Does he (or his records) even know if I am buying cannabis?

 

 

 

It might be based on old arrest records 

[Magictoad]

Ah well; it was good while it lasted.

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

A significant point in the regulation is the prohibition of smoking on cannabis shop premises without medical supervision

Where does it say a scrip is required for off premises consumption?

[SunnyinBangrak]

Back to mouldy brickweed and getting followed home from.reggae bars by plainclothes corrupt cops. Big step back for Thailand and citizens health & wealth.

 

Don't suppose my overseas dr prescription and pharmacy dispensed weed can be taken to Thailand when we nxt visit?

[pedro01]

Just went to my local & got 4 joints for 240THB.

 

Something supposed to be different?

[ikke1959]

Who is going to enforce this law?? Police busy with crackdown on motorcycle drivers without helmets( I think it is over already). Besides that the RTP is not enforcing any law so it will be business as usual, after this week

[thesetat]

11 hours ago, Magictoad said:

Ah well; it was good while it lasted.

I am sure the cannabis shops have prepared for this already and will not affect them as badly as predicted. The police have surely set up some kind of plan for this also. Perhaps directing the shops to doctors on their list that they will overlook or perhaps by demanding more brown envelopes. Either way, I do not see all the cannabis shops closing for this new law. Just as any law in Thailand, it will be enforced and then forgotten until it is time to get the envelope. 

[MikeandDow]

Typical Thailand   Flip Flop  decisions  

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a bid to tighten control over cannabis usage, the Public Health Minister has announced new regulations, requiring a medical prescription for all cannabis purchases. This move follows concerns about rising cannabis use since its decriminalisation in 2022.

Originally it was supposed to be for medical use only, then shops opened up on every street, cafes started infusing it into food, the usual Thai free-for-all.

Nutters everywhere smoking  it.

[mikeymike100]

Even the BBC has an article on this......"Thailand's 'weed wild west' faces new rules as smuggling to UK rises"

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c056l0dgg8jo

[LukKrueng]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon of the Narcotics Control Board highlighted that cannabis users in Thailand more than doubled from 350,000 in 2019 to over 700,000 last year. This increase, he noted, corresponds with the period following cannabis decriminalisation.

How can they know how many people used weed when it was illegal?

[factual monk]

This will give rise to fake letter pads, stamps... etc including fake doctors... making prescriptions for the potential clients...  

[redwood1]

2 hours ago, thesetat said:

I am sure the cannabis shops have prepared for this already and will not affect them as badly as predicted. The police have surely set up some kind of plan for this also. Perhaps directing the shops to doctors on their list that they will overlook or perhaps by demanding more brown envelopes. Either way, I do not see all the cannabis shops closing for this new law. Just as any law in Thailand, it will be enforced and then forgotten until it is time to get the envelope. 

 

How about the police.....

 

First weeds very illegal. Before 2018

 

Then in 2018 weed is a little bit legal some times,for some people.

 

Then weed is a little more legal some times..

 

Then weed is legal for most everybody all the time

 

Now they want to make weed kind of illegal again except it will still be sort of legal for some people some times...

 

I bet the Police have just about had it with this legal illegal horse S--T.. 

And just dont give a rats a$$ any more about weed. no matter any new tweek on the law..

[klauskunkel]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed the regulation, specifying that only licensed individuals can study, export, sell, or process cannabis buds.

My guess is that Somsak will make good money from the licensing fees... 

[Kandinski]

Closet - check

Lamp - check

Monkey fan - check

2 gall pot - check

Coco coir - check

Bottom line.....who cares😋

[Dcheech]

Question. This will be in effect when published in the Gazette to make it official. However, as of today, Thursday the 26th it is still "legal" to buy?

Asking for a friend. 

[Jumbo1968]

14 hours ago, redwood1 said:

 

 

Exactly.... I think there are about 20,000 weed shops and lets say each shop has  one owner and at least 2 employees so thats 60,000 people....And lets throw in another 10,000 for growers and suppliers ........So there is 70,000 minimum people out of work ...

 

 Somsak Thepsuthin had no problem saying Tony was a very sick man who needed 6 months in a hospital but does not seem to give a rats a$$ about putting 70,000 people out of work.....Somsak Thepsuthin has no ethics....Its just who has biggest brown envelope...

What did the 70000 work at before, Thais are very resilient and will find work elsewhere.

[hitext]

As publicly stated, this has nothing to do with the Bumjauthai party being exorcised. Also, there are leprechauns riding unicorns in my back yard...

[sikishrory]

Weed shops closing. Cry me a river.

 

Quite surprised the controlled explosion of a bomb at phuket airport yesterday hasn't even made the news digest today.

Nor did the bomb found a few days ago at phuket bridge checkpoint. 

[Krabi King]

With the amounts produced and still in stock there will be a huge black market for the times ahead. This is exactly the reason why other countries legalised it. 

[Patong2021]

14 hours ago, redwood1 said:

 

 

Exactly.... I think there are about 20,000 weed shops and lets say each shop has  one owner and at least 2 employees so thats 60,000 people....And lets throw in another 10,000 for growers and suppliers ........So there is 70,000 minimum people out of work ...

 

 Somsak Thepsuthin had no problem saying Tony was a very sick man who needed 6 months in a hospital but does not seem to give a rats a$$ about putting 70,000 people out of work.....Somsak Thepsuthin has no ethics....Its just who has biggest brown envelope...

 

One should not rely on Cannabis promoters for data, as they have embellished the numbers to support their view that they  are a valuable industry. Let's review what we do know;

- Thai nationals can grow cannabis for personal use, but commercial growers need licenses. Statista says that there were 1900 licensed commercial growers in Thailand.

- According to the BBC's report today; There are now around 11,000 registered cannabis dispensaries in Thailand. 

- Cannage Cannabis a medicinal producer in 2024 stated that there were 9.700 licensed cannabis shops

 

Medicinal cannabis will still be available. I expect that we will soon see the  M&A of the industry speed up. 1900 cultivators is too many. Nor is there a need for 11,000 cannabis dispensaries.

 

70,000 people will not be out of work. The money laundering shops will close, but the medicinal use dispensaries will continue.

[Galong]

14 hours ago, Bert got kinky said:

Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon of the Narcotics Control Board highlighted that cannabis users in Thailand more than doubled from 350,000 in 2019 to over 700,000 last year. This increase, he noted, corresponds with the period following cannabis decriminalisation.

 

Is the figure of 350,000 a wild guess or is this the number of known users from arrest records.

If it is an actual amount of known dealers, when you add in the smokers who didn't report their habit to the local police station, I would guess that there would have been more than 700,000 before decriminalisation.

Every statement he's made is questionable, to put it politely. 

The fact of the matter is that if he really cared about young people, he'd focus on the things that harm them the most: motorbikes and cigarettes.

Pot, unless you're still in the 'Reefer Madness' mindset, is relatively harmless compared to unregulated alcohol, which can make you violent and which is the cause of many road deaths.

Consistency in their logic is woefully lacking.