Thailand is set to impose stricter controls on cannabis use, just two years after it became the first Asian nation to decriminalise the plant. Under a new directive signed by Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin, cannabis sales will be limited to individuals with medical prescriptions only.
Announced on Monday, the measure also seeks to reclassify cannabis buds as a controlled herb, signalling a sharp policy reversal driven by rising public health concerns and increased youth exposure.
The move follows widespread criticism that weak regulations have made cannabis easily accessible, particularly to minors, contributing to a reported rise in addiction. Phanurat Lukboon, head of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, confirmed that his agency is preparing to enforce the updated regulations. A recent agency study highlighted a notable spike in cannabis addiction since the 2022 decriminalisation.
Although the order sets out tighter restrictions, it does not specify penalties for violators. The new rules will take effect once published in the Royal Gazette, though no date has been announced.
Thailand’s cannabis liberalisation initially sparked a boom in tourism and cannabis-related businesses, leading to an explosion of dispensaries across the country. However, the absence of clear regulations has drawn increasing backlash from public health officials and conservative groups.
Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsab said the latest measures were necessary to address widespread, unregulated sales of cannabis for both medical and recreational use, which had begun to undermine national drug control policies.
The ruling Pheu Thai Party, which had campaigned on a pledge to recriminalise cannabis, had previously faced opposition from its coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party—a vocal proponent of legalisation. That alliance collapsed last week following Bhumjaithai’s exit from the coalition, reportedly triggered by a leaked conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
Health Minister Somsak on Tuesday further signalled his support for eventually reinstating cannabis as a narcotic, citing a recent surge in cannabis smuggling by foreign tourists.
In reaction, cannabis advocacy groups decried the new measures as politically motivated, and announced plans to protest outside the Ministry of Public Health next month. They vowed to resist any attempt to recriminalise cannabis use or commercial sales.
