Thailand Cannabis Laws Review: Industry Push Prompts Government Action
The Thai Ministry of Public Health has agreed to launch a Thailand cannabis laws review following pressure from cannabis advocates who say recent restrictions have hurt the legal industry and small businesses.
Industry Network Calls for Policy Change
A network known as “Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future”, led by secretary-general Prasitchai Nunuan and chairwoman Chokwan Chopaka, met senior health officials this week. They called on the government to restore regulations that previously supported open cannabis sales and cultivation.
The group submitted letters to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat, asking them to reverse measures introduced by former minister Somsak Thepsutin of the Pheu Thai Party. These measures, they said, have disrupted the sector since cannabis was reclassified as a “controlled herb.”
Key Issues Raised in the Thailand Cannabis Laws Review
Under the 2025 announcement, cannabis can be sold only in licensed medical clinics. The group wants the ministry to bring back the 2022 regulation, which allowed sales in registered retail shops without medical prescriptions. Advocates argue this earlier framework supported tourism and local entrepreneurs.
Mr. Prasitchai also objected to new cultivation rules that require laboratory testing of cannabis flowers. He said this was unnecessary for farms certified under Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards and has created high costs for small growers.
Proposals to Prevent Market Monopoly
The group urged the government to withdraw a draft regulation that limits cannabis sales to clinics. They warned this could reduce 10,000 licensed shops to fewer than 100, creating an unfair monopoly and eliminating local business opportunities.
They also requested that the Cannabis Bill, pending in parliament since 2022, be expedited to create a clear and permanent legal framework.
Government Response and Next Steps
Dr. Sakda Alapach, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said the government recognized the concerns. He confirmed that the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine would conduct a participatory review within two weeks before presenting recommendations to the minister.
For expats and tourists in Thailand, the Thailand cannabis laws review could determine whether cannabis products remain accessible through wellness shops or return to a tightly regulated medical model.
