43 minutes ago, fondue zoo said:

 

Same, young guy started with a small weed truck, did well, opened two other locations, also doing well.

Permits up the wazoo, money in his pocket, and now it's all gone.

 

Even if he could reinvent it, he said one or two of the Big 5 have locked down supply/pricing via the GACP requirement.

It's cooked.

 

Indeed.  Thailand's politicians never could stand small non-HiSo Thais doing well.  I guess a huge number of people will never vote Pheu Thai again.

6 hours ago, freedomnow said:

and in another article posted today it says "18,000 shops will all close".......never experienced any other country with such contradictory information or rule changes, new rules...EVER.

 

Thai law could be almost classed a torture method.

 

This is why Thailand can only attract budget tourism.  Wealthy people and businesses won't accept such unclear, unwelcoming and basically unstable rules and laws.  Budget tourists see it as interesting and the "mai bpen rai" thing makes for a relaxing atmosphere.

They should’ve done this at the start so the opportunistic business people wouldn’t be tempted to take advantage of poorly managed and run scheme. Nonetheless they are now following the law. 

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Clinics will only use certified cannabis, adhering to regulated CBD and THC thresholds.

Has anybody seen what these "thresholds" may be ?     Its the first I've heard of it .  I'm not wanting to give them any ideas and I doubt they are reading this ,   But surely if they were seriously advocating only medical use , the first logical and obvious step would be to ban "Flowers"  how can smoking it be considered medically beneficial for asthma sufferers or anybody else ?

I would have expected it to have been available as an oil or tincture for sublingual use.   

I must be missing something, 

3 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

Assuming this policy ends up being "the law", cannabis might be one of the most regulated "drugs".

Not surprising really, considering the "horrendous" side effects as shown in "reefer madness" and other propaganda of the time.   It still affects a small vocal minority who the authorities feel the need to pacify and thus need to show how they are protecting the "vulnerable"

 

1 hour ago, MarkBR said:

 politicians never could stand small non-HiSo Thais doing well.

 

I keep seeing comments like "It's just HiSo losing their money" but that's not what I've seen, except in the center of Bangkok. Elsewhere they are entrepreneurial kids creating a new culture and having fun.

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Got a weed shop near my location, they opened only two months ago... small place.

I guess they won't be able to afford a resident doctor?

They mentioned telemedicine, meaning they will be able to set up a tablet so people can talk to some centralized doctor, assuming a conversation is even necessary. It may just be a web form to fill out that a doctor somewhere else approves. Scam.

 

When he

 

    

 

comes back, after Pheu Thai is ousted, will he revert the tide?

He won't be pleased by complicating his initial straight forward no-nonsense policy(complete deregulation of the weed matters) as Thaksin and his klans are doing now 

 

 

Good.

Pheu Thai govt's   attempt to transfer the cost of doctors' pay rise to civilian vendors while keeping billions to them.

I forgot to go to work last week.  I was hitting that bong soooo hard.   My son is 19 and he loves jointing it up.  Doctor says his brain isn't developing correctly, but what do they know???   Smoke 'em if you got em.

 

Smoking and exercise?  never.   Immune system will hate you.  

Smoking and driving?  I won't even feel the accident

Smoking and working?   brah...

Smoking and learning?  I learn how to see the sky, listen to music, chill.

 

I am, however, in favor of sexpats in Pattaya and Phuket smoking all day and all night.   Just keep it in the sexpat places.    not Bangkok, too many kids.  Pai, fine.   

 

A few weed cities are fine.  

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Dr Somlerk Jeungsmarn, head of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, confirmed that only 2,000 shops are expected to remain after meeting the stringent new requirements.

... and 16,000 shops operating in the Black Market.

Have mentioned it before, but on the premise that I am against all kinds of drugs, it is incomprehensible how they can take it into their heads to close 18000 shop overnight.
It's about the same if they were to proclaim ‘due to air pollution, from tomorrow you will no longer be allowed to use your car in Bangkok’.

Everyone’s going loco down in Acapulco if you stay too long …a good tune 

Trying to turn the omelet back to the egg. Good luck with this.

4 hours ago, fondue zoo said:

 

 

Who is Thailand exporting weed too?  Most international markets are very "mature" with set supply guidelines in place for years.

 

Exporting by Brit smugglers.It doesn't go so well.

Thailand just can't sort itself out.

 

This is yet more confusion.

 

If I were stupid enough to think about doing business here especially after US 36% tarrifs I'd think thrice based upon these knee jerk, draconian actions.

 

Rule by man not rule by law

7 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

What a stupid decision.... 

I'm not a user, but lately you can't take anything that the government comes out with for granted, what with

those flurries of making foreigners life hard with the late changes mostly negative ones in immigration,

investing and owning properties and opening bank accounts and then lamenting that people's numbers

coming to Thailand has dropped.

So much fuss over a plant who's only crime is to make people happy.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The first 1,000 Thai traditional medicine doctors.......

What formal qualifications are required in order to apply for cannabis training with the department? How long is the course? Where did the one thousand doctors mentioned come from and why have they been trained secretly? 

6 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

2000 shops still open is still alot. They can't all have doctors present to prescribe. How are they "training" doctots to do this this work, it would take years. Or are these "health care professionals" just the shop owner with a few hours training ?

probably medical dropouts who can't pass the exams, will be given an easier qualification

My DR told me that skin doctors were the bottom of the list so now it will be DR Ganja and associates.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand to force cannabis shops to hire doctors

 

Photo of Thanakrit Jit-areerat (left) courtesy of The Nation
 

Only approved doctors can prescribe cannabis sourced from certified suppliers

Thailand’s cannabis boom is about to get a massive reality check. Starting later this year, thousands of cannabis retailers will be legally transformed into healthcare facilities—and required to have a doctor on-site to dispense weed.

 

At a packed press conference yesterday, July 8, Thanakrit Jit-areerat, Secretary to the Minister of Public Health, announced that the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) had officially launched its new Cannabis Prescription system. The system was tested for the first time today, July 9, with 50 patients.

 

“Cannabis isn’t classified as a narcotic, but we must have control measures,” Thanakrit said. “Complaints about cannabis use have surged tenfold, now impacting 1.5 million people.”

 

Ever since cannabis was decriminalised, public anxiety has grown over widespread recreational use and quality issues. To tackle this, the Ministry of Public Health is introducing sweeping regulations to rein cannabis back into the realm of medicine.

 

Under the new Herbal Control Announcement (Cannabis) for 2025, only doctors from seven designated medical fields will be authorised to prescribe cannabis. Furthermore, any cannabis sold must come from standardised, approved sources to guarantee consumer safety.

 

DTAM has also issued an official prescription form for medical cannabis, marking a decisive shift away from casual retail sales. Shops will be allowed to sell cannabis only to customers with a valid prescription.

 

“These policies won’t negatively impact the 18,000 shops already operating,” Thanakrit said. “We will work closely with retailers and local health offices to ensure everyone understands the changes.”

 

Dr Somruek Chungsaman, Director-General of DTAM, confirmed that a formal letter will be sent to the Royal Thai Police outlining what constitutes proper and improper cannabis possession to avoid confusion.

 

“Once regulations take effect this year, every cannabis outlet will effectively become a healthcare facility,” Dr Somruek said. “Until then, shops must use the controlled herb prescription system. Staff authorised to dispense cannabis will be specially trained by the department.”

 

The first 1,000 Thai traditional medicine doctors will complete their training and be ready to issue prescriptions by July 16, reported The Nation.

 

To help both patients and regulators, an IT system is being developed so retailers can check prescription records and track cannabis use. Officials are also planning to launch telemedicine services in hospitals and clinics, though this system is still in the works.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-10

 

 

 

"...  only doctors from seven designated medical fields will be authorised to prescribe cannabis."  Which fields?

 

There is already a shortage of medical doctors in the Thai public health care system.

 

I cannot imagine many of the shops having the capital to employ the required registered medical doctors.

7 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

 

i didnt know that someone who enjoys a toke is being 'IMPACTED' by weed. i thought it was consensual freedom of choice

Perhaps the numbér of users is much higher, but 1.5 millíon users have a negative impact.

5 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Has anybody seen what these "thresholds" may be ?     Its the first I've heard of it .  I'm not wanting to give them any ideas and I doubt they are reading this ,   But surely if they were seriously advocating only medical use , the first logical and obvious step would be to ban "Flowers"  how can smoking it be considered medically beneficial for asthma sufferers or anybody else ?

I would have expected it to have been available as an oil or tincture for sublingual use.   

I must be missing something, 

Drops and edibles are available,i do not smoke it either.

 

Same as I said 3 years ago. 
 

They will regulate it so you pay more and then more revenue 

The only thing for certain is the whole weed situation is a bloody mess.....No one can run a business when the rules change by the day or week.....
 

And the whole Dr thing is just laughable. 

11 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

The only thing for certain is the whole weed situation is a bloody mess.....No one can run a business when the rules change by the day or week.....
 

And the whole Dr thing is just laughable. 

The rules did not change., cannabis was decriminalised for medicinal purposes only....but as usual, this didn't stop Thais opening businesses and selling the drug illegally for non medicinal purposes.

The doctor thing and "recreational" vs. "medical" are total farces. 

What I would like to see is effective regulation of safety (as far as toxic chemical use) and truth in advertising for the products along with a reasonable level of taxation on all cannabis sales including online. The taxation would easily pay for any social problems related to cannabis and much much more. 

1 minute ago, Aussie999 said:

The rules did not change., cannabis was decriminalised for medicinal purposes only....but as usual, this didn't stop Thais opening businesses and selling the drug illegally for non medicinal purposes.

It wasn't decriminalzed. It was LEGALIZED.

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It wasn't decriminalzed. It was LEGALIZED.

Geez mate, just do some research...then come back and apologise.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Thailand