Hemp News12 Jul, 2025
Thailand Reverses Course on Cannabis, Upending Industry and Fanning Political Turmoil
Hempco Admin12 Mins. Read
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After a sudden policy U-turn, cannabis is now a prescription-only controlled substance in Thailand – a move that has devastated dispensaries and farmers and come amid a high-stakes political rift involving a leaked border dispute call.
Thailand’s government has abruptly reclassified cannabis as a controlled herb for medical use only, rolling back its landmark 2022 decriminalisation of the drug. Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed a new order – effective immediately upon its publication in the Royal Gazette – banning all sales of cannabis to anyone without a doctor’s prescription and classifying cannabis flower buds as a regulated substance[1]. Sellers who violate the prescription rule now face penalties up to one year in jail and a 20,000 baht (US$600) fine[1]. Officials say the goal is to end virtually all recreational cannabis use. “Cannabis will be classified as a narcotic in the future,” Somsak vowed, framing the change as a return to the original intent of legalisation: medical-only access[2][3].
Authorities wasted no time enforcing the crackdown. The Public Health Ministry instructed all licensed dispensaries to strictly verify prescriptions and source products only from government-certified medicinal farms[4]. A standard prescription form (known as a Phor Thor 33) must now accompany every sale, with shops required to log each transaction and report their inventories monthly to regulators[5][6]. The new rules amount to a dramatic U-turn from Thailand’s relatively lax approach over the past three years, during which cannabis was freely sold in thousands of outlets and even marketed to tourists[7][8].
A “Marijuana Smoking Prohibited” notice was displayed at a Bangkok venue on June 27, 2025, shortly after the new restrictions took effect. Under the order signed by the health minister, cannabis can no longer be sold or consumed socially without a medical prescription, marking a sharp reversal of Thailand’s 2022 liberalization[9].
Government spokespeople defended the reversal on public health grounds, citing a spike in cannabis use among youth and a rise in untoward incidents. Unregulated access to marijuana had “created serious social problems, particularly for children and young people,” one official asserted, describing reports of school-age cannabis intoxication and a surge in smuggling cases as justification for the clampdown[10][11]. A recent study by the Thai Narcotics Control Board claimed the number of cannabis addicts jumped significantly after decriminalization[12]. Citing such concerns, the health ministry says Thailand’s cannabis policy “must return to its original goal of controlling cannabis for medical use only”[3].
The policy reversal has delivered a heavy blow to Thailand’s nascent cannabis industry, which had exploded into a flourishing trade valued at around $1 billion annually[13][14]. Over 18,000 licensed cannabis shops operate across the country[15] – from Bangkok’s buzzing tourist strips to remote farm cooperatives – but many now see their business in jeopardy. With recreational sales effectively outlawed overnight, dispensary owners report a sudden collapse in customers and revenue. “This is my main source of income… a lot of [shop owners] invested heavily,” said Punnathat Phutthisawong, 25, who works at a Bangkok dispensary, describing the community’s shock at the new rules[16].
Many cannabis entrepreneurs say the prescription mandate has scared off the vast majority of their clientele. One Bangkok shop that used to serve more than ten customers an hour on a typical afternoon now sees “just one or two” after implementing on-site doctor checks, according to Nanuephat Kittichaibawan, a dispensary manager[17]. Even offering an in-house physician to write quick prescriptions hasn’t prevented a steep drop in foot traffic[17][18]. “It is more complicated than it used to be, and for some people it will be too much,” Nanuephat said of the added hoops. Faris Pitsuwan, who owns five cannabis stores on popular tourist islands including Phuket and Ko Phi Phi, noted a similar plunge in sales: “Yesterday, I could not sell anything,” he told Al Jazeera, adding that it’s “too soon to say” if his business will survive the abrupt shift[19].
Licensed shops are now permitted to sell cannabis only in limited quantities (a 30-day personal supply per patient) and must obtain all inventory from “pharmaceutical-grade” farms certified by the government[4][20]. This new supply-chain restriction is posing an existential threat to small growers and retailers alike. “Owners are freaking out, a lot of them are scared,” said Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, a prominent cannabis advocate who until recently ran a boutique dispensary in Bangkok[21][22]. Chokwan explained that even before the latest order, staying within the (previously lenient) rules made it hard to compete with black-market sellers – and now compliance has only gotten stricter[23][24]. She predicts most of the thousands of dispensaries that have mushroomed since 2022 will be forced to shutter within months if the medical-only policy is enforced diligently, likely before many recoup their startup investments[24][25].
On the farming side, tighter licensing and quality mandates are expected to drive out the majority of small-scale cultivators. Under the new regulations, every cannabis farm that wishes to continue supplying local clinics must obtain a Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) certificate, proving pharmaceutical-grade standards[26]. That process is costly and time-consuming, and as of now only about 100 farms nationwide have GACP certification out of thousands currently growing cannabis[27]. “When you announce it and your announcement is effective immediately, how does a farm adapt that quickly? It is impossible,” said Vara Thongsiri, owner of Thai Kush, a boutique grow facility in Bangkok[28]. Vara has been supplying independent dispensaries since 2022 and plans to apply for certification, but he worries his business might not survive the downtime: “My farm is a working farm. We harvest every month… If the process takes three months to six months, how am I going to last if I can’t sell the product I have?”[29][30]. Like many “little guy” growers, Vara says he has no choice but to try to meet the new standards, but warns that farms cannot last long without cash flow if forced to halt sales during a protracted approval period[31][30].
Critics argue the one-size-fits-all requirements will inevitably benefit large corporations at the expense of smallholders. “Forcing it on all farmers will weed out thousands of ‘little guys’, leaving the largest farms and the corporations backing them to dominate the market,” Chokwan Chopaka observed, noting the new rules demand expensive upgrades that only well-funded operations can readily afford[27]. Rattapon Sanrak, a cannabis farmer who runs two “Highland Cafe” dispensaries in Bangkok, has been crunching the numbers and is pessimistic. Under the compliance costs and reduced customer base of a medical-only regime, “it’s not feasible any more… It’s not worth the money to invest,” he said bluntly[25][32]. Rattapon and hundreds of other affected entrepreneurs are now organizing a class-action lawsuit against the government, claiming the sudden rule change has inflicted massive financial harm on those who entered the legal cannabis trade in good faith[33]. They also warn that pushing out licensed operators will simply drive much of the cannabis business back underground: faced with ruin, many growers and vendors may choose to operate illegally rather than give up entirely[34][35]. “Imagine you have a company, you hire 10 people, you invest 2 million baht… and then one day they say that you cannot sell it any more,” Rattapon said. “What would you do? … They will go underground.”[36][35]
The draconian turn in cannabis policy comes against a backdrop of high political drama in Bangkok, which observers say is directly linked to the reversal. The right-leaning Pheu Thai Party, which leads the ruling coalition, had long been skeptical of the previous government’s cannabis liberalization and even campaigned in the last election on rolling it back[37]. However, until recently Pheu Thai was restrained by its coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party – the political force that originally championed cannabis decriminalization. That coalition collapsed in spectacular fashion in late June after a leaked international phone call ignited a scandal. Bhumjaithai, the second-largest party in the government, abruptly withdrew from the coalition last month, citing Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s handling of a sensitive border dispute with Cambodia that came to light via the leaked audio[38][39]. With Bhumjaithai out of the picture, Pheu Thai suddenly had a freer hand to impose the tough cannabis restrictions it wanted – and it did so within days. Health Minister Somsak’s prescription order was signed just after Bhumjaithai’s exit, a timing not lost on political analysts[40].
The trigger for Bhumjaithai’s departure was an extraordinary leak of a 17-minute phone conversation between Prime Minister Paetongtarn (the daughter of ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra) and Cambodia’s influential former leader (now Senate President) Hun Sen[41][42]. In the call, Paetongtarn was heard addressing Hun Sen familiarly as “uncle” and agreeing to ease border restrictions that had been imposed after a deadly armed clash on May 28 in disputed territory (the skirmish left one Cambodian soldier dead)[43][42]. The Thai prime minister also referred to the local Thai army commander involved in the incident as “an opponent” during the exchange[44]. When a snippet of the call first leaked, it caused an uproar among nationalist factions in Thailand, who accused Paetongtarn of being too deferential to Cambodia and undermining Thai sovereignty[45][39]. Hun Sen responded by posting the full call recording on his Facebook page – an unusual diplomatic breach – saying he did so to avoid any misrepresentation[41][46].
Paetongtarn apologized to the public after the audio went viral, explaining that she used informal language and conciliatory remarks as a negotiation tactic to “bring peace” to the border situation[47]. She also blasted Hun Sen for leaking a private discussion, calling it a betrayal of trust that put popularity over bilateral relations[48]. But the damage was done at home. Bhumjaithai – led by Anutin Charnvirakul, who had served as Public Health Minister in the previous administration – seized on the incident as the final straw. The party announced it was pulling out of Paetongtarn’s coalition, declaring that the call “posed an impact on Thailand’s sovereignty, territory, interests and the army” and demanded that the prime minister take responsibility[39]. Bhumjaithai’s sudden exit blew a hole in the governing alliance, leaving Pheu Thai at the helm of a much shakier 10-party coalition with only a slim House majority[49]. The opposition and some protesters have since called for Paetongtarn’s resignation and even floated the specter of a military coup, though the army has issued statements urging calm and reaffirming its loyalty to the constitution[50][51].
The fallout of this political saga has directly colored Thailand’s cannabis policy. Bhumjaithai’s presence in government had been the key reason Thailand became the first Asian nation to decriminalize marijuana in 2022, fulfilling one of its flagship campaign promises. Conversely, Pheu Thai had always been openly uneasy about the recreational cannabis boom. With Anutin’s party gone (and in opposition), Pheu Thai moved swiftly to enact the stricter regime it had long wanted. The prescription mandate and “controlled herb” designation for cannabis were pushed through unilaterally by the Pheu Thai-led health ministry, overriding the approach favored by Bhumjaithai[37][40]. Pheu Thai leaders insist the crackdown is necessary to close legal loopholes and curb abuses that they say Bhumjaithai’s laissez-faire policy allowed to fester[52][53]. In Parliament, Pheu Thai lawmakers have pointed to the proliferation of dispensaries in tourist districts and reports of underage use as evidence that the previous government “opened this door without adequate safeguards”[54][53]. They also note that a comprehensive Cannabis Bill – which would have set stricter rules and licensing limits – stalled last year due to political infighting, leaving a regulatory vacuum even as cannabis sales took off[55][32]. (That bill was initially proposed by Bhumjaithai but was never passed; Pheu Thai now appears uninterested in reviving it, preferring to simply put cannabis back on the narcotics list entirely[56].)
For many observers, the cannabis reversal is not just a public health decision – it’s also a story of political score-settling and old habits of oligarchy. The sudden crackdown coming immediately after Bhumjaithai’s ouster has raised eyebrows. “As soon as one party steps down from the coalition, this happens. The timing just could not be any more perfect,” quipped Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, the dispensary owner and advocate, alluding to Pheu Thai’s swift imposition of rules that Bhumjaithai had long resisted[57][58]. Many farmers and small business owners believe the outcry over cannabis – from alleged youth misuse to international smuggling cases – has been deliberately exaggerated and weaponized by Pheu Thai to punish Bhumjaithai for their political feud[57][59]. The fact that Pheu Thai’s health minister announced the new curbs barely 48 hours after Anutin Charnvirakul’s resignation from the cabinet has only fueled suspicions that the move was as much about politics as public safety.
Cannabis advocates rally outside the Public Health Ministry in early July, urging the government “Do not make [ganja] illegal again.” Dispensary owners like Chokwan Chopaka (center, with megaphone) argue that better enforcement of existing regulations – rather than a blanket rollback – could have addressed concerns about youth access and illicit sales[60][24].
Beyond the partisan clash, the cannabis U-turn fits a pattern in Thai policymaking where critics say the interests of the elite often prevail over the broader public. Even during the height of Thailand’s short-lived cannabis boom, questions swirled about who was really benefiting. Small-scale growers and community co-ops complained that they struggled to compete in the legal market while large companies with political connections positioned themselves to dominate lucrative export and medical contracts. In the initial rollout of medical marijuana several years ago (when access was limited to hospital patients), public hospitals were reportedly required to procure cannabis oils from a few select government-approved farms – including ventures linked to well-connected figures – at prices far higher than what local independent growers could offer. Those policies drew criticism for effectively funneling profits to the politically connected under the guise of “safe” medical sourcing. Now, stakeholders fear history may be repeating itself. The new prescription regime is poised to concentrate the cannabis trade in the hands of a few large players – namely, certified pharmaceutical companies and big agricultural firms able to meet the strict standards – while thousands of smaller entrepreneurs are forced out[27][61]. “He [Minister Somsak] suspected the Public Health Ministry of favouring large-scale cannabis-related businesses,” reported the Bangkok Post on sentiments expressed by a protest leader, noting that officials have denied any intent to create an oligopoly[61].
From the perspective of growers and sellers who hitch their livelihoods to Thailand’s cannabis experiment, the abrupt reversal feels like a betrayal of the promised social benefits. Bhumjaithai had pitched cannabis liberalization as a boon for ordinary Thais – a new cash crop for farmers and an attraction for tourists that could spread income beyond the usual elite circles. Indeed, since 2022, an estimated 20,000 cannabis businesses have sprung up, many of them small family-run ventures hoping to ride the “green rush”[62]. Some of those hopes have been dashed virtually overnight. “A lot of people are very stressed out. We’re talking about people that are borrowing money… This is their last lot of savings, because our economy hasn’t been well,” Chokwan said, describing how hard times had driven many Thais to stake everything on a cannabis startup[63][64]. Now, instead of reaping rewards, those newcomers face a wave of closures, debt, or a retreat into the shadows of an illicit market[34][35].
Public opinion on the issue is mixed. Polling last year by the National Institute of Development Administration found roughly three-quarters of Thais supported putting cannabis back on the narcotics list in some form[65], reflecting genuine worry about unregulated youth access. Many in the medical community, too, applauded the tighter rules – Thailand’s Association of Forensic Physicians, for example, has long lobbied for reclassification due to health risks, noting studies that showed a 5-6 fold increase in cannabis-related hospital cases among minors post-legalization[66][67]. Yet supporters of cannabis reform argue that these issues could have been managed with common-sense regulations and enforcement rather than a blunt reversal. They point out that prior regulations – such as age limits (sales to under-20 banned) and no-public-smoking rules – were already on the books but poorly enforced[68][69]. The government, they suggest, chose to let the situation worsen and then used the fallout to justify a crackdown that ultimately aligns with the ruling party’s interests.
As Thailand navigates this policy whiplash, what’s clear is that the stakes extend beyond health and morals to questions of governance and equity. The cannabis saga has become a lens on how policy can be made – or unmade – when political power shifts. Small business owners like Faris Pitsuwan, the island dispensary proprietor, say they feel caught in a game beyond their control. “The cannabis industry has become a hostage to politics,” observed Chokwan Chopaka ruefully[70][71]. In the coming weeks, industry advocates plan to keep protesting and lobbying for a more measured approach, even as authorities prepare to potentially re-list cannabis as a Schedule 5 narcotic drug later this year[72][73]. The outcome will determine whether Thailand’s bold foray into legal cannabis is remembered as a temporary “green rush” stymied by conservative backlash and cronyism, or as a still-evolving experiment that might find a sustainable middle ground. For now, however, the message to Thailand’s cannabis entrepreneurs is unmistakable: the high times are over, and the house rules have changed – largely to the benefit of those holding the keys to the kingdom.
Sources: The Nation Thailand[74]; Al Jazeera[57][27]; Associated Press[1][44]; Reuters[38][16]; Bangkok Post[61]; others.
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Bangkok Post - Thailand’s cannabis ‘clinic’ transformation explained
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