Report Thailand’s Medical Cannabis Rules Tighten with Launch of Prescription Form

[webfact]

A pedestrian walks by the sign of a Cannabis shop after Thailand started banning the sale of cannabis to those without a prescription in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

THAILAND - In a groundbreaking move, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) has launched an official prescription form for medical cannabis, set to revolutionise patient care across the country.

 

Announced on June 30, this development follows the Ministry of Public Health’s regulations on controlled herbs, establishing strict guidelines for cannabis usage.

 

The newly introduced form, P.T.33, empowers authorised professionals—ranging from doctors to traditional healers—to prescribe cannabis to patients suffering from 15 specific medical conditions.

 

“This prescription form is designed to standardise the process for all dispensers,” stated Dr Somruk Chungsaman, Director General of the Department. “It ensures that cannabis is used safely and effectively.”

 

Doctors are now required to meticulously document patient information, including full name, age, nationality, and ID or passport number. They must also detail diagnosed symptoms, the prescribed dosage, usage duration, and total quantity.

 

Each prescription is valid for up to 30 days and must align with official guidelines and supporting documents. Dispensers are mandated to retain prescriptions for a year for compliance checks.

 

This announcement comes after a period of delays and extensive discussions. Initially put on hold by Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin, the draft form underwent revisions after consulting the medical community. Now, with the form published in the Royal Gazette, its implementation is imminent.

 

A staff prepares flower bud of marijuana for a customer at a cannabis shop after Thailand started banning the sale of cannabis to those without a prescription in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

Dr Tewan Thanirat, Deputy Director General, assured the public, “We’ve submitted the announcement to the Royal Gazette website.

 

The regulations will take effect the day after publication.” Despite recent legal reforms, cannabis flower remains a controlled substance in Thailand. The new prescription form aims to prevent misuse and create a clear operational framework for medical professionals.

 

Prescriptions can be issued by those qualified in various medical disciplines, including Thai traditional medicine, Chinese medicine, and conventional medicine, as reported by Matichon.

 

This landmark regulation is expected to enhance access for patients with chronic conditions, highlighting Thailand’s dynamic cannabis policy landscape.

 

The implementation of P.T.33 represents a significant step forward in healthcare, offering patients a controlled avenue to benefit from cannabis while maintaining regulatory oversight. As the changes unfold, attention remains on how this new regulation will reshape medical practices and patient experiences across Thailand.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-01

 

 

 

[Steve Mee]

 

 

 

[shocky2012]

"Revolutionise" ... more like "Confusionalise".

[Steve Mee]

Apparently dispensary owners have been advised by officials that they have to follow new prescription regulations if they want to continue operating.  

 

In my area all the dispensaries (about 7) have been closed since the first announcement last week.   

[quake]

It's been reported that doctors uniforms and name badges

are now, in short supply in Thailand. 

[redwood1]

17 minutes ago, Steve Mee said:

Apparently dispensary owners have been advised by officials that they have to follow new prescription regulations if they want to continue operating.  

 

In my area all the dispensaries (about 7) have been closed since the first announcement last week.   

 

For every shop that follows the law to the letter 10 will half azz go through the motions or ignore the new requirements all together.....The term Lazy Stoner was  coined for a reason...

[WHansen]

Will make it a chore for those that use the weed shops but luckily i buy the compressed 500 baht an ounce gear from a local so won't be affected.

[mancub]

32 minutes ago, WHansen said:

Will make it a chore for those that use the weed shops but luckily i buy the compressed 500 baht an ounce gear from a local so won't be affected.

If your supplier has any business sense, you might be affected in your pocket 😁

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, quake said:

It's been reported that doctors uniforms and name badges

are now, in short supply in Thailand. 

Certain businesses on Khao San Road will be busy

[BexMan]

Am I alone in thinking that some Doctors are going to make a mint from this new law?

[kingstonkid]

A young doc just finishing gp can pay their way through med school on a ort time income.

 

What are the requirements to be a non traditional doctor 

 

I could use some extra cash

[TheAppletons]

2 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

A young doc just finishing gp can pay their way through med school on a ort time income.

 

What are the requirements to be a non traditional doctor 

 

I could use some extra cash

 

  Well, the traditional route to becoming a doctor is to graduate from medical school.

 

  If you haven't done that, then I guess you may consider yourself a non-traditional doctor.

[Spock]

3 hours ago, Steve Mee said:

Apparently dispensary owners have been advised by officials that they have to follow new prescription regulations if they want to continue operating.  

 

In my area all the dispensaries (about 7) have been closed since the first announcement last week.   

I messaged the shop I buy from when staying in Rangsit on the Thursday and was assured it was still selling. Got a Thai mate to go buy for me next day (I am not yet in Thailand), and it was closed. He asked the shopowner next door what had happened and was directed to another shop 5 km away where he bought me enough to last me the month. Then the postponment was announced the same day and I was annoyed with myself for panicking, but your comment makes me glad that I did. You just don't know what this government is going to do from day to day.

 

As an aside, if the Thai government wants only medical marijuana, it really needs to consider the method of consumption of the flower. Weed vaporisers are not readily available in Thailand and smoking is itself a health hazard. But users are not left with much choice as to how the weed is consumed. The other advantage of vaporizers is that they give off very little smell which would allay the major concern of many on here. 

[Steve Mee]

47 minutes ago, BexMan said:

Am I alone in thinking that some Doctors are going to make a mint from this new law?

 

FYI

 

Asked about the current situation, there are concerns about the trading of cannabis prescriptions. Dr. Somruk said that there really should be no fees, but initially there was a discussion that if there is a charge during this period, it should not exceed 50-100 baht because there are rumors that the price will be as high as 500 baht, which is too expensive and would also violate professional ethics.

[Spock]

7 minutes ago, Steve Mee said:

 

FYI

 

Asked about the current situation, there are concerns about the trading of cannabis prescriptions. Dr. Somruk said that there really should be no fees, but initially there was a discussion that if there is a charge during this period, it should not exceed 50-100 baht because there are rumors that the price will be as high as 500 baht, which is too expensive and would also violate professional ethics.

Prescriptions in Australia are generally for 5 or 6 quantities of 10gm, perhaps more, with a similar limit of 30 grams a month. In a low use situation, this means that a script could last 3-4 months or more. Thailand's 30 day prescription is going to force users to the doctor too often, more than necessary given that weed is going to be prescribed for chronic rather than acute cases. If medical weed goes the way it has in Australia, it will simply become a means for recreational users to obtain it on medical grounds.

[Steve Mee]

8 minutes ago, Spock said:

Prescriptions in Australia are generally for 5 or 6 quantities of 10gm, perhaps more, with a similar limit of 30 grams a month. In a low use situation, this means that a script could last 3-4 months or more. Thailand's 30 day prescription is going to force users to the doctor too often, more than necessary given that weed is going to be prescribed for chronic rather than acute cases. If medical weed goes the way it has in Australia, it will simply become a means for recreational users to obtain it on medical grounds.

 

I am an Australian medical cannabis patient since 2020.  Prescriptions come with numerous repeats & are valid for 6 months, can get 4 x prescriptions for different strains & my limit is 60 grams per month.  For prescriptions a 5 minute telephone consultation with a nurse is required followed up by a 1 minute call from the doctor to confirm everything before issuing the prescriptions.  

 

So we are limited to certain strains with prescriptions in Australia, however, in Thailand you can buy any strain you like once you obtain a prescription.  Some Thai dispensaries have mentioned  that you will only be able to buy their strains when prescribed by their doctor.  

[off road pat]

4 hours ago, Steve Mee said:

Apparently dispensary owners have been advised by officials that they have to follow new prescription regulations if they want to continue operating.  

 

In my area all the dispensaries (about 7) have been closed since the first announcement last week.   

When my wife and I were traveling around the north in the beginning of this year, we saw two huge cannabis greenhouses like factories, in separate places.

I think these guys will be in trouble now ??

[topt]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The regulations will take effect the day after publication.”

Doesn't affect me but how long until "publication" normally - or is it already a done deal?

[thesetat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Prescriptions can be issued by those qualified in various medical disciplines, including Thai traditional medicine, Chinese medicine, and conventional medicine, as reported by Matichon.

ok so really, you can go to any type of medical doctor and pay their fee to get a prescription. I seriously doubt this will impact anyone who really wants to smoke weed in thailand. especially since you can just about go to any doctor and pay their fee to get what you want that is legal for them to write prescriptions for. 

[Steve Mee]

9 minutes ago, topt said:

Doesn't affect me but how long until "publication" normally - or is it already a done deal?

 

Published in Royal Gazette yesterday & effective from today.

[topt]

Just now, Steve Mee said:

 

Published in Royal Gazette yesterday & effective from today.

Thanks

[gravity101]

Does the government actually understand how the people behave or their behaviour towards laws they dont agree with or laws that get in the way of making money? A prescription, that'll solve it 🤑. Has anyone EVER gone to a pharmacist with a prescription in hand?

 

I remember getting blue and whites and yellow and whites, colloquially known as diet pills back in late 90s without a prescription. - I wasn't fat 😉 No one cared about your prescription then nor do they care about a prescription now.

[spidermike007]

This does not represent a revolution in patient care, what this represents is a historic betrayal on the part of the Thai government against mostly younger investors who have been invested billions upon billions in the industry and in dispensaries, with an unjustifiable sense of trust, and a hope that the government would back them on this. 

 

This is a pox on the nation. 

 

 

[Steve Mee]

5 minutes ago, thesetat said:

ok so really, you can go to any type of medical doctor and pay their fee to get a prescription. I seriously doubt this will impact anyone who really wants to smoke weed in thailand. especially since you can just about go to any doctor and pay their fee to get what you want that is legal for them to write prescriptions for. 

 

Only modern medicine & thai traditional doctors for now.  The other 5 professions, ie. pharmacists, dentists, Chinese medicine etc are still preparing guidelines.   

 

“For diseases or groups of symptoms, originally 15 symptoms were specified, but now they have been removed because they may overlap with each profession. Each professional group is left to specify symptoms, which must follow the guidelines of their profession. Currently, there are 2 professions that have guidelines: the Medical Council, which has had them for the past 2 years, and the Thai traditional medicine profession. As for the other 5 professions, they are in the process of creating guidelines. If they are not finished, they still cannot be implemented,” said Dr. Somruk.

 

When asked about the case of medical cannabis in modern medicine and Thai traditional medicine, what symptoms are accepted? Dr. Somruk said that if modern medicine doctors who are certified have 4 diseases: epilepsy, nausea and vomiting from cancer treatment, nerve pain, and muscle cramps, for Thai traditional medicine, there will be 8 groups of symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, pain from cancer, etc.

 

Only modern medicine & Thai traditional medicine doctors for now.  The other 5 professions are still creating guidelines, ie. dentists, pharmacists, Chinese medicine etc.  

 

Appears modern medicine doctors can certify 4 diseases as mentioned above & Thai traditional medicine can certify 8 diseases as mentioned above at this stage until the other 5 professions create guidelines.

 

 

FYI

 

Asked about the current situation, there are concerns about the trading of cannabis prescriptions. Dr. Somruk said that there really should be no fees, but initially there was a discussion that if there is a charge during this period, it should not exceed 50-100 baht because there are rumors that the price will be as high as 500 baht, which is too expensive and would also violate professional ethics.

[Steve Mee]

18 minutes ago, off road pat said:

When my wife and I were traveling around the north in the beginning of this year, we saw two huge cannabis greenhouses like factories, in separate places.

I think these guys will be in trouble now ??

 

Apparently GACP certification costs hundreds of thousands baht & it takes months to obtain approval.  

 

I have been informed by some smaller growers that they will be going underground as certification costs are prohibitive.  

[Thingamabob]

24 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This does not represent a revolution in patient care, what this represents is a historic betrayal on the part of the Thai government against mostly younger investors who have been invested billions upon billions in the industry and in dispensaries, with an unjustifiable sense of trust, and a hope that the government would back them on this. 

 

This is a pox on the nation. 

 

 

Well said.

[jippytum]

4 hours ago, WHansen said:

Will make it a chore for those that use the weed shops but luckily i buy the compressed 500 baht an ounce gear from a local so won't be affected.

You will if you get caught together with your dealer. 

[dinsdale]

Absolute inanity. BTW remember 0.2% medical THC strength. This closes down a multi billion baht industry with some people losing everything. This is THAKSIN. This is absolute MADNESS.

[HappyExpat57]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

ranging from doctors to traditional healers

And what exactly qualifies one to be a traditional healer?

I've been self-medicating all my life, do I qualify?

[ignore it]

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