Report Thailand Tightens Cannabis Laws, Dispensaries Must Transform

[snoop1130]

File photo (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

In a significant move to regulate cannabis use in Thailand, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has announced that all cannabis dispensaries must transition into medical clinics to continue operating legally. The department's chief, Dr Somlerk Jeungsmarn, highlighted this change as part of new ministerial regulations focused on medical usage, tightening the existing cannabis laws.

 

Central to this regulation is the requirement for dispensaries to have a licensed medical professional on-site, authorised to sell cannabis. To meet these criteria, dispensaries must register as hospitals or clinics under the Hospital Act. Additionally, new guidelines will dictate the issuance of prescriptions necessary for acquiring cannabis products for medical purposes.

 

Thailand currently boasts 18,000 licensed cannabis shops; however, only a limited number currently meet the criteria of a hospital or clinic. With licence renewals for 12,000 retailers scheduled for November, compliance with these new regulations will be mandatory.

 

Dr Jeungsmarn stated, "If they want to sell cannabis, they will have to switch to being a hospital or clinic under our new regulation; otherwise, they won't be able to sell it." He anticipates these regulations will be enforced within the next three months as the deadline for licence renewals approaches.

 

This shift marks an end to the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes, aligning entirely with medical applications. Observers note this could significantly alter the landscape of cannabis sales in the country.

 

Furthermore, the department aims to regulate the prices of cannabis medical products, ensuring affordability and accessibility. Over 9,000 doctors have been trained and authorised to issue the necessary prescriptions, supporting the transition to a medically focused cannabis industry.

 

This initiative represents a crucial pivot in how Thailand manages cannabis, reflecting broader global trends towards carefully regulated medical use. As the country positions itself within this framework, stakeholders, including dispensary owners and medical professionals, are urged to adapt to ensure compliance and continued operation.

 

Financial implications are also in focus, as the industry prepares for changes that may affect pricing and availability. This regulatory overhaul seeks to not only control use but also guide the industry towards a sustainable medical model, benefiting both patients and the healthcare system.

 

As the November deadline looms, dispensary owners are encouraged to seek guidance and comply with the upcoming regulations to ensure their businesses remain operational and contribute to Thailand's evolving medical cannabis landscape.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-03

 

 

[Ralf001]

🤣😂🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂😂🤣😂🤣😂

[Pouatchee]

taksin leaving his mark before exiting stage left. next thing they'll be back to shoot first ask questions later for poor saps who enjoy toking a spliff... hate the guy and all related to him

[Pouatchee]

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

reflecting broader global trends towards carefully regulated medical use

 

and how exactly will they justify someone has medical use for it? the glaucoma myth was debunked long ago... they know that they are making it impossible for people to consume and sell... geez now the dispensaries have to be registered hospitals? how much is that gonna cost? they didnt make money on taxes so they found a loophole... jackasses

[blaze master]

Wholesale market price for gacp flower has already doubled.

 

 

[SMIAI]

Really? I see it advertised from as little 4 baht per gram.

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In a significant move to regulate cannabis use in Thailand, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has announced that all cannabis dispensaries must transition into medical clinics to continue operating legally. The department's chief, Dr Somlerk Jeungsmarn, highlighted this change as part of new ministerial regulations focused on medical usage, tightening the existing cannabis laws.

Good news....

[Kenny Boy]

Good

[wombat]

Has this law change been gazetted?

[cookie1974]

Good, legalising weed was the biggest mistake Thailand has made in the last 10 years, the only reason it was legalised in the first place was because the fat cats in charge at the time had their greasy fingers in the cannabis pie, most Thais were dead against it, but they didnt have a choice, as were all the countries surrounding Thailand ( notice how not one followed Thailands progressive policy of legalisation 🤣 ) the massive downside of the softening of the rules did nothing but attract criminal gangs from all over the world, who took advantage of Thailands pathetic law enforcement to ship huge amounts out of the country to wherever it was needed, Thailand became the new Amsterdam, and anyone who needs a lesson from history should look at what happened there, a criminal, scum infested cesspit of a place , its no suprise that the explosion of cocaine in Thailand directly coincides with the legalisation of cannabis, one drug attracts the other 

[Olof Karlsson]

Why not just forbid the <deleted>

[technoronin]

Great, Thailand is still trying to recover economically from the scamdemic so they are going to put tens of thousands of people out of work again.  This is while the government and the banking sector is working hard to chase farangs out of the country.  This sounds like a set up for a Marxist revolution and power grab.  Who is going to be this century's Josef Stalin?

[Bday Prang]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Furthermore, the department aims to regulate the prices of cannabis medical products, ensuring affordability and accessibility.

I can guarantee it won't be any cheaper than it is now or any more accessible, So regulation not required

[newbee2022]

Good decision.

I hope many of those Cannabis-hooligans disguised as tourists will avoid to enter Thailand.

[Bday Prang]

25 minutes ago, wombat said:

Has this law change been gazetted?

I don't think so, not yet ,    the op said "in the next 3 months and also refers to november when the licences are up for renewal, so ok for now

[Bday Prang]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Good decision.

I hope many of those Cannabis-hooligans disguised as tourists will avoid to enter Thailand.

"cannabis hooligans"  brilliant , did you make that up yourself ?    Drink up your breakfast chang and reflect how stupid it sounds

[Peterphuket]

31 minutes ago, cookie1974 said:

Good, legalising weed was the biggest mistake Thailand has made in the last 10 years, the only reason it was legalised in the first place was because the fat cats in charge at the time had their greasy fingers in the cannabis pie, most Thais were dead against it, but they didnt have a choice, as were all the countries surrounding Thailand ( notice how not one followed Thailands progressive policy of legalisation 🤣 ) the massive downside of the softening of the rules did nothing but attract criminal gangs from all over the world, who took advantage of Thailands pathetic law enforcement to ship huge amounts out of the country to wherever it was needed, Thailand became the new Amsterdam, and anyone who needs a lesson from history should look at what happened there, a criminal, scum infested cesspit of a place , its no suprise that the explosion of cocaine in Thailand directly coincides with the legalisation of cannabis, one drug attracts the other 

It's exactly what you say, as a Dutchman I can agree what a mess it has been as a result in terms of allowing that stuff into my home country.

[GreasyFingers]

A question from a non user but have grown it in the past for friends when you could have 6 plants. Is that still current?

[blazes]

20 minutes ago, technoronin said:

Great, Thailand is still trying to recover economically from the scamdemic so they are going to put tens of thousands of people out of work again.  This is while the government and the banking sector is working hard to chase farangs out of the country.  This sounds like a set up for a Marxist revolution and power grab.  Who is going to be this century's Josef Stalin?

 

If Thailand were blessed with a Joe Stalin, it might then have a police force that actually policed the roads and thus helped to reduce the traffic fatalities that plague this country....

[Bday Prang]

Here's a novel idea, why don't the handful of anti cannabis stalwarts open their own anti cannabis thread and then they can virtue signal to each other to their hearts content.  Instead of coming on threads like this for no other reason than antagonise other members who come here for information

Its nothing short of trolling they should be suspended, 

[Thingamabob]

36 minutes ago, cookie1974 said:

Good, legalising weed was the biggest mistake Thailand has made in the last 10 years, the only reason it was legalised in the first place was because the fat cats in charge at the time had their greasy fingers in the cannabis pie, most Thais were dead against it, but they didnt have a choice, as were all the countries surrounding Thailand ( notice how not one followed Thailands progressive policy of legalisation 🤣 ) the massive downside of the softening of the rules did nothing but attract criminal gangs from all over the world, who took advantage of Thailands pathetic law enforcement to ship huge amounts out of the country to wherever it was needed, Thailand became the new Amsterdam, and anyone who needs a lesson from history should look at what happened there, a criminal, scum infested cesspit of a place , its no suprise that the explosion of cocaine in Thailand directly coincides with the legalisation of cannabis, one drug attracts the other 

Ignorant nonsense from beginning to end. As for your description of Amsterdam as a 'criminal, scum infested, cesspit of a place ' I suggest you should withdraw that comment at your earliest convenience.

[redwood1]

Folks every weed smoker in Thailand whos worth their salt has quite a long list of weed contacts by now ......Point being they wont be buying from the shops.....All the doctor prescription nonsense is strictly for the sheep and the tourist.....

[Aussie999]

Why do I feel this will make a mockery of what a hospital/clinic is....next move will be tightening/enforcing what a is a hospital/clinic. Oh Thailand, is it so hard to follow other countries.

[newbee2022]

16 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

"cannabis hooligans"  brilliant , did you make that up yourself ?    Drink up your breakfast chang and reflect how stupid it sounds

Stupid??😂 Are only those consumers.

[Bday Prang]

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Stupid??😂 Are only those consumers.

That's an alcohol fuelled response if ever I saw one

[redwood1]

And for all you idiots posting here cheering on all the doctor  prescription nonsense.... Trust me it will the biggest wink wink nod nod joke ever.

[Aussie999]

24 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

"cannabis hooligans"  brilliant , did you make that up yourself ?    Drink up your breakfast chang and reflect how stupid it sounds

Ah, so your a regular user...nuff said

[DULEROY]

54 minutes ago, wombat said:

Ce changement de loi a-t-il été publié au Journal officiel ?

 

https://www.hfocus.org/sites/default/files/2025/users/user288/2025-06/11.jpg

[khunpeer]

20 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

It's exactly what you say, as a Dutchman I can agree what a mess it has been as a result in terms of allowing that stuff into my home country.

me as being Dutch as well, i have total different experience with the situation in NL! it's not perfect but better than before.

here in Tland they should control it better, because they didn't control it at all... but making all dispensaries little clinics with a doctor inside sound ridiculous to me...

totally out of touch!

it's asking for trouble. illegality seems back on it's way again...

[newbee2022]

11 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

That's an alcohol fuelled response if ever I saw one

😂 Can you see anything through the smoke?😂