Thailand Implements Prescription-Only Cannabis Sales Amid Recriminalization Plans

Thailand is moving to re-criminalize cannabis for recreational use while maintaining its legality for medical purposes, marking a reversal three years after its initial decriminalization. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed new rules requiring a doctor's prescription and medical certificate for purchasing cannabis, effectively limiting legal use to medical needs only. This shift responds to widespread recreational use and the proliferation of over 11,000 cannabis dispensaries nationwide, which emerged in a regulatory gray area following the 2022 decriminalization. The government plans to enforce stricter oversight, including banning sales via retail, vending machines, and online platforms unless dispensed by licensed healthcare providers, and mandates that cannabis sellers have a doctor present for licensing. The re-criminalization move also reflects political tensions within the ruling coalition and concerns over regulatory instability and increased cannabis smuggling. While the exact enforcement date remains unclear, the new regulations signal a significant policy tightening after Thailand's initial pioneering legalization efforts in Asia.