Thailand Tightens Cannabis Laws, Demanding Prescriptions in Response to Political Pressure and Addiction Issues

Thailand will now need a prescription in order to acquire cannabis due to growing concerns about addiction and new political initiatives to make the plant illegal again.

Only two years after decriminalizing cannabis, Thailand is now strengthening its regulations. Somsak Thepsutin, the health minister, recently issued an order limiting the sale of cannabis to people who have a valid prescription. 

Following growing worries about juvenile access and public health, the measure, which was unveiled Monday, also suggests reclassifying cannabis buds as a controlled herb—a dramatic policy reversal.

The action follows mounting concern that a rise in addiction cases is the result of cannabis being too widely accessible, particularly to minors, due to lax rules. According to Phanurat Lukboon, the head of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, his organization is getting ready to put the new regulations into effect. According to a study conducted by the agency last year, the decriminalization of cannabis led to a dramatic rise in cannabis addiction.

Despite outlining limitations, the new order makes no mention of the consequences for breaking them. No date has been set for when it will take effect, but it will happen after it is published in the Royal Gazette.

Dispensaries all around the country have grown rapidly after Thailand’s decriminalization in 2022, which spurred a boom in cannabis-related tourism and cultivation. Health officials and conservative organizations, however, have reacted negatively to the regulatory void.

The latest limitations are required because the government’s efforts to curb drug usage have been undermined by the extensive selling of cannabis for both medical and recreational purposes, making it too accessible, according to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsab.

Prior to this, the Bhumjaithai Party, a major pro-legalization coalition partner, blocked the ruling Pheu Thai Party, which had promised to recriminalize cannabis. Following Bhumjaithai’s withdrawal from the coalition last week due to a leaked call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, that partnership fell apart.

Cannabis should eventually be relisted as a narcotic, Minister Somsak said on Tuesday. This initiative comes after reports of an increase in cannabis smuggling by international visitors in recent months.

Cannabis advocacy groups responded by claiming that the new rules were driven by politics. They said they will reject any move to criminalize cannabis use or sales again and announced plans to demonstrate before the Health Ministry next month.