Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has launched a strict crackdown on the use of forged cannabis prescription forms after uncovering evidence of identity fraud and the online sale of fake documents used to obtain cannabis for recreational purposes.

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On 27 June 2026, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, working with police and security agencies, announced it would pursue criminal action against individuals, cannabis retailers, healthcare facilities and medical professionals involved in forging medical certificates and controlled herbal medicine prescription forms, known as Form P.T.33 (PorThor 33 / ปท.33)

The investigation found that fake P.T.33 forms were being used to sell cannabis flowers to members of the public without medical examinations or professional consultations. Officials also discovered cases where healthcare practitioners had allegedly signed blank prescription forms, allowing retailers to add details later and use them as false evidence when submitting mandatory cannabis usage reports under Form P.T.28.

Dr Thewan Thanirat, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, said the ministry had instructed enforcement officers to file criminal complaints against those responsible. Cannabis retailers producing fraudulent P.T.33 forms for commercial sales could face prosecution for document forgery, while healthcare professionals found to have participated could face disciplinary action for professional misconduct.

Authorities said offenders would face prosecution under the Criminal Code, while professional licences could be suspended or revoked. Cases involving healthcare practitioners will also be referred to the relevant professional councils to consider disciplinary penalties, including suspension or permanent revocation of licences.

Dr Peeracha Kookasemkit, Director of the Medical Cannabis Division, said the department is strengthening oversight by introducing digital verification and electronic databases to monitor controlled cannabis prescriptions more closely. The upgraded system will allow officials to verify document reference numbers instantly and trace prescriptions back to the issuing doctor and healthcare facility.

The digital system is designed to detect irregularities such as duplicate document numbers, invalid reference codes and doctor names that do not match official records. Officials believe the enhanced checks will make it more difficult to produce or use fraudulent prescriptions.

Khaosod reported that Dr Peeracha stressed that controlled cannabis must only be used under proper medical supervision for genuine treatment purposes. He urged members of the public and business operators who encounter fake medical certificates or improperly issued P.T.33 forms to report them through the Traffy Fondue application or by calling the department’s hotline on 02-257-7042, so authorities can bring offenders before the courts.

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 28 June 2026

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Seems like a hell of a lot of money and red tape to administer a program that.....stops people from smoking a joint. I'll leave the whataboutisms to the dopers but this seems excessive in light of some of the other issues facing the country.

What is the current process when purchasing Weed. Do you need to provide photo Id that the shop copies?

If so, that would be a worry as it may be attached to a fake document that is now in the hands of the Police.

19 hours ago, Joe Farang said:

What is the current process when purchasing Weed. Do you need to provide photo Id that the shop copies?

If so, that would be a worry as it may be attached to a fake document that is now in the hands of the Police.

go to the mall .. chose your favorite, hand the lady behind the counter cash.. go home with the stash

"ZERO" checks

Soon it will be a crackdown on crack.....

Not hard to understand, get a legal prescription to purchase.

7 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Not hard to understand, get a legal prescription to purchase.

Getting a prescription wouldn't be so bad if it was good for a year, but getting and paying for it every 30 days is ridiculous.

5 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Getting a prescription wouldn't be so bad if it was good for a year, but getting and paying for it every 30 days is ridiculous.

Why, a prescription should be for one time use...maybe your "condition" will improve. Medical examinations are costly,...get out patient insurance if cost is the only problem

They will NEVER NEVER be able to squeeze weed back into a nice controlled box again....Any weed smoker worth their salt has a huge list of weed contacts by now...And shops could care less about prescriptions...

14 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Why, a prescription should be for one time use...maybe your "condition" will improve. Medical examinations are costly,...get out patient insurance if cost is the only problem

That's not true, it's very common for a doctor to issue prescriptions with automatic refills. You're arguing that everyone would need a new prescription every 30 days no matter what the doctor recommends. That's again, ridiculous.

I don't bother smoking the stuff, but I see some shops ares till in operation, apparently with doctors on site to issue prescriptions. I wonder what conditions qualify? Just about every adult human being on earth has some problem or another. Bad back, insomnia, etc.

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57 minutes ago, Trippy said:

That's not true, it's very common for a doctor to issue prescriptions with automatic refills. You're arguing that everyone would need a new prescription every 30 days no matter what the doctor recommends. That's again, ridiculous.

Common where?...Thailand? There is nothing wrong with people requiring an examination and or a consultation each month, or even sooner. Health issues get better or worse where medication may need changing 👍

22 hours ago, Joe Farang said:

What is the current process when purchasing Weed. Do you need to provide photo Id that the shop copies?

If so, that would be a worry as it may be attached to a fake document that is now in the hands of the Police.

There is no process, other than choosing and paying for your weed.

What a surprise. Who would have expected this to happen!

3 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

go to the mall .. chose your favorite, hand the lady behind the counter cash.. go home with the stash

"ZERO" checks

Or simply order it online, much cheaper too

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Common where?...Thailand? There is nothing wrong with people requiring an examination and or a consultation each month, or even sooner. Health issues get better or worse where medication may need changing 👍

Do you think before you write? If you made everybody on heart medication, diabetes, or blood pressure or depression medications etc etc, get monthly doctor visits the system would be so overwhelmed, it would break down. There's only a finite number of doctors.

5 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Do you think before you write? If you made everybody on heart medication, diabetes, or blood pressure or depression medications etc etc, get monthly doctor visits the system would be so overwhelmed, it would break down. There's only a finite number of doctors.

Can you answer my question, where are yearly prescriptions available?...in Thailand?. Is your weed prescription for your heart, blood pressure or diabetes???

So now, it is more risky to get the d*mn prescription than to just ignore it! I'm buying it online. How could I possibly know if it's legit or not? Is an online prescription an oxymoron?

19 minutes ago, Ebumbu said:

So now, it is more risky to get the d*mn prescription than to just ignore it! I'm buying it online. How could I possibly know if it's legit or not? Is an online prescription an oxymoron?

Ignore it at your peril, or just go and pay for a real prescription, not hard to understand 👍..

55 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Ignore it at your peril, or just go and pay for a real prescription, not hard to understand 👍..

Drugs& Medications

How can I know if it's real or counterfeit? What I have now totally looks real.

5 hours ago, Trippy said:

Getting a prescription wouldn't be so bad if it was good for a year, but getting and paying for it every 30 days is ridiculous.

You make a valid point, and I’m not disagreeing.

However, keep in mind that the availability of different cannabis strains fluctuates throughout the year. It often changes on a monthly basis, which means it might be necessary to update the prescriptions every 30 days.

In my opinion, the validity of prescriptions should align with the duration of a person's stay in the country or be limited to a maximum of three months.

On 6/28/2026 at 12:23 PM, Joe Farang said:

What is the current process when purchasing Weed. Do you need to provide photo Id that the shop copies?

If so, that would be a worry as it may be attached to a fake document that is now in the hands of the Police.

Just buy online,

Nothing required beyond a delivery address, your phone number, and the COD payment.

Purchased 200g (4 different strains) for 926bht inc COD.

It's good stuff too!

1 hour ago, Ebumbu said:

How can I know if it's real or counterfeit? What I have now totally looks real.

Go to a registered Doctor for an examination and consultation...not so hard to understand

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Ignore it at your peril, or just go and pay for a real prescription, not hard to understand 👍..

Do you currently smoke weed?

Dont people understand, you can get your weed legally if you have a full examination and consultation..what is wrong with that...I think the days of potheads spreading their stink everywhere is over, which is a good thing. Hey obey the law and you wouldn't get so much critisimn

5 minutes ago, marin said:

Do you currently smoke weed?

No I don't, if I did, I would not have a problem of paying for a prescription 👍

7 hours ago, jas007 said:

I don't bother smoking the stuff, but I see some shops ares till in operation, apparently with doctors on site to issue prescriptions. I wonder what conditions qualify? Just about every adult human being on earth has some problem or another. Bad back, insomnia, etc.

I got mine prescribed for an itchy arse , Doc said smoke this dank kush and your brown eye will be the last thing on your mind.

10 hours ago, Luuk Chaai said:

go to the mall .. chose your favorite, hand the lady behind the counter cash.. go home with the stash

"ZERO" checks

Yes, I don’t exactly know how many retail Cannabis shops there are in a 4km radius of my house, but I would be surprised if it’s less than 50. Most with recreational seating outside so that customers can enjoy their purchases, some with mood music playing and flashing lights much like a bar.

Not entering the debate of whether it should be legal or not, that’s an argument that’s been played to death and will never be resolved. But crackdown on medical prescriptions?

I do sometimes wonder if the authorities know what is happening in the real world.

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

But crackdown on medical prescriptions?

Bullpucky. Every cannabis shop is paying for 1000s of pre-signed prescription forms (from an herbal witch doctor) and they just fill in your name when you buy. The whole point of prescriptions is to make sure the right people get paid. As long as manilla envelopes are flowing, nothing will change. This article is just like the Thai official saying there's no prostitution in Pattaya.