Amid Rising Concerns, Thailand Moves To Re-Criminalise Cannabis After 3 Years

Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 11:09 IST

Thailand will ban cannabis sales without a medical prescription soon. Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed the order, which awaits publication in the Royal Gazette.

A worker tends to cannabis plants at a farm in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand, July 16, 2024. (AP file photo)

Thailand is all set to impose stricter controls on cannabis by banning its sales without a medical prescription. The move comes three years after Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, leading to a boom in tourism and cannabis-related businesses.

However, widespread public backlash over under-regulation and rising addiction, particularly among the youth, has made the government to reconsider its stance.

On Monday, Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed an order prohibiting shops from selling cannabis to customers without valid medical prescriptions, news agency AP reported.

The order also proposes to reclassifying cannabis buds as a controlled herb. The order did not detail any punishment for the violation. The order will come into effect once published in the Royal Gazette. However, date is not confirmed for the publication yet.

Phanurat Lukboon, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, confirmed that his agency is prepared to review and implement the new regulations.

Somsak also stated that he intends to relist cannabis as a narcotic in the future. His remarks follow recent reports of increased cannabis smuggling involving tourists and concerns over easy access for minors.

Government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsab said in a statement on Tuesday that the government ordered the Health Ministry to tighten control on sales of cannabis because “many shops opened to sell cannabis both for recreational and medical purposes, allowing easy access for children and general people, which contradicts the government’s purpose to crack down on drugs."

The ruling Pheu Thai Party had earlier promised to recriminalize the drug but was met with resistance from its former coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, which supported its legalization. Bhumjaithai exited the coalition last week following a leaked call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and ex-Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

Meanwhile, a group of cannabis advocates have vowed to protest the proposed changes, calling the crackdown politically driven. The group is expected to hold a demonstration at the Health Ministry next month.

Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...Read More

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...

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Bangkok, Thailand

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News world Amid Rising Concerns, Thailand Moves To Re-Criminalise Cannabis After 3 Years