Thailand to Reclassify Cannabis as Controlled Substance

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June 24, 2025

Thailand plans to reclassify cannabis as a controlled substance, limiting its use strictly to medical purposes, according to Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin.

On 24th June 2024, Somsak Thepsuthin, Thailand's Health Minister, announced that cannabis will be classified again as a controlled substance, restricting its use to medical applications only.

The minister signed a declaration requiring a doctor's prescription and certificate for cannabis purchases. He emphasised that this move is not a crackdown on cannabis shops following the Bhumjaithai Party's withdrawal from the government.

The decision follows public consultations held between 22nd May and 10th June 2024, where the majority supported the medical-only use of cannabis.

New business licences will require additional regulations and mandates that a doctor is present in shops or conduct monthly checks. Non-compliance could lead to licence revocation.

The Bhumjaithai Party's efforts to push a Cannabis Control Bill are deemed unrealistic, as past laws allowed certain substances to be managed by the Health Ministry.

The minister expressed frustration over the political promises and disconnected implementation, noting a burst of cannabis-related businesses without clear legal backing.

Somsak clarified that the current measures are not politically motivated but address ongoing public concerns. The focus remains on cannabis being a strictly controlled medicinal herb, with future plans to reapply its classification as a controlled substance.