Thailand plans new cannabis rules to rein in dispensary boom

Thailand's Health Ministry has drafted rules to restrict cannabis sales to licensed medical facilities, herbal shops, pharmacies and traditional practitioners, and the draft is under legal review; officials say patients who rely on medical cannabis will not be affected.

Thailand has drafted a Health Ministry amendment to limit where cannabis may be sold, aiming to move most sales into licensed medical facilities and other regulated outlets. The change follows the country's 2022 decriminalization and subsequent policy tightening. The draft requires establishments to have at least one practitioner trained by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine on duty during operating hours. Local media cited Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat saying the draft is under legal review and will be signed and implemented after that. Key points: - Thailand decriminalized cannabis in 2022 and has since introduced several tighter regulations. - The draft regulation would allow sales only at medical facilities, stores selling herbal products, pharmacies, and through traditional medicine practitioners. - Establishments must have at least one practitioner with training from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine on duty while open. - The draft is under legal review; the minister did not provide a timeline for signing or implementation. - The article reports the industry grew to over 18,000 dispensaries by the end of 2025, and that more than 7,000 did not renew licenses and are expected to close. - An advocacy group representative said the rules will push small dispensaries out of business and favor larger firms. Summary: The draft rules would narrow the types of outlets allowed to sell cannabis and formalize training requirements for staff, which the article says could reduce the number of small dispensaries and increase uncertainty in the sector. The regulation is currently under legal review and will be signed and implemented after that, but no timeline was provided.