Tag: Thailand

Nearly 90% Of Thailand Cannabis Stores Expected To Close

Written by Johnny Green on July 12, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

At the start of this year, Thailand was one of the top legal cannabis markets on the planet, becoming so after a landmark policy change a few years ago. In 2022, Thailand made history by becoming the first country in the Southeast Asia region to modernize its cannabis policies and remove cannabis from its narcotics list.

Unfortunately, the glory days of Thailand’s modern cannabis industry appear to be over, at least for now.

“The new regulations – set to be enforced by the end of the year – would leave about 2,000 of Thailand’s estimated 18,000 cannabis shops in operation, a Ministry of Public Health official said on Tuesday.” reported South China Morning Post this week in its original coverage.

“Cannabis was officially designated a “controlled herb” in June, under an order signed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. The reclassification means the plant can now only be used with a licensed medical prescription, and all professionals authorised to prescribe it must undergo training approved by the health ministry.” the outlet also reported.

Some international cannabis media coverage has framed the recent public policy changes in Thailand as ‘proof that Thailand’s cannabis industry experiment did not work as designed.’ However, a basic review of Thailand’s approach in the last few years demonstrates that the industry did work as designed by the last government, and that recent changes are actually the result of a new government taking control of the country.

Thailand’s historic cannabis policy shift in 2022 was designed to pave the way for the nation’s emerging cannabis industry to become a regional and international cannabis industry leader. Every household in the entire country could sign up initially to legally cultivate low-THC cannabis plants, which a reported 1.1 million citizens of Thailand had done at one point.

During Thailand’s historic change in 2022, the nation’s Public Health Minister indicated that there would be no plant limit for the government’s cannabis cultivation program. Thailand’s government also gave away over 1 million cannabis seeds directly to households that signed up for the program.

A broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand agreed to do their part to push the nation’s emerging cannabis industry forward. Researchers estimated at the time that Thailand’s 2022 policy change would result in roughly 12,000 cannabis dispensaries opening nationwide. As we now know, the number ended up being around 18,000 dispensaries by 2025.

All cannabis sales in Thailand will eventually require a medical prescription, and retailers will be required to have an on-site licensed medical professional at every location. All cannabis products in Thailand will be required to be sourced from licensed suppliers and undergo rigorous testing for contaminants.

In addition to requiring tailored training for all cannabis-prescribing medical professionals, all staffers at the nation’s remaining cannabis dispensaries will also have to complete a required training. An estimated 100,000 dispensary staffers are expected to take the necessary training once it is offered.

Thailand Is Moving Backwards On Cannabis Policy

Written by Johnny Green on June 25, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

Thailand adopted a historic measure in 2022, which involved the removal of cannabis from the nation’s narcotics list, making it the first nation in the region to do so. However, that policy change is proving to be short-lived, with the nation’s Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin confirming this week that he signed a measure that will place cannabis back on the narcotics list.

“Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on Tuesday he had signed an order restricting cannabis use to strictly medical purposes.” reported the Bangkok Post in its local coverage. “People wanting to purchase cannabis would in future have to present a doctor’s prescription and a medical certificate detailing their condition, Mr Somsak said.”

“The director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Somlerk Jeungsmarn, said on Monday that authorities would allow a grace period before changes come into effect, so the parties concerned could prepare for it.” the outlet also reported.

The announcement was expected, albeit unfortunate, with government officials in Thailand having repeatedly indicated in recent months that they would implement the regressive approach to cannabis policy and regulation. The recently signed order will take effect when it is published in the Royal Gazette, although the exact date of publication is still unclear. Thailand’s emerging cannabis industry is currently estimated to be worth over $1 billion.

Part of the shift in regulations will involve the requirement that all shops have a licensed medical professional on their staff, and that shops must complete and pass monthly inspections. Any cannabis shops in Thailand found to be out of compliance two times will lose their license to operate.

As we previously reported, a ramp-up in cannabis shop inspections has already begun in Bangkok, Thailand, where the Ministry of Public Health, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board collaborated to deploy over 100 officers in a coordinated sweep of 20 shops.

“A group of cannabis advocates said Wednesday that the change in regulations was politically motivated. The group said they will rally at the Health Ministry next month to oppose the change and the attempt to make it a criminal offense again to consume or sell cannabis.” reported the Associated Press regarding pushback by local cannabis advocates.

Cannabis Shop Inspections Ramp Up In Thailand

Written by Johnny Green on June 22, 2025. Posted in Business, Policy.

A series of cannabis store inspections reportedly occurred in Bangkok, Thailand, today as part of the government’s increased industry enforcement efforts. The inspections come amidst calls by cannabis opponents to repeal Thailand’s modernized cannabis policies and regulations.

“The Ministry of Public Health, in cooperation with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), and related agencies, deployed over 100 officers in a coordinated sweep of 20 cannabis shops across Bangkok on Sunday (June 22).” reported The Nation in its original coverage.

“Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said the operation follows a direct order from the Prime Minister, mandating a nationwide crackdown on unauthorised psychoactive drugs such as Rohypnol and Alprazolam, which are classified as controlled substances under medical regulations, along with precursor substances like kratom and cannabis.” the outlet also reported.

Reported violations from the inspections included ‘failure to properly record transactions and provide product details,’ as well as stores allegedly allowing on-site consumption. The reported violations resulted in some stores being ordered to close for between 10 and 14 days.

The Assistant to Thailand’s Public Health Minister, the Director-General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, and the nation’s Deputy Secretary-General of the Food and Drug Administration all participated in the inspections.

Separately, officials in Phuket recently met with members of the local business community to discuss their complaints about cannabis shops in the area. Phuket is home to an estimated 1,500 specialty cannabis stores.

“The Phuket Tourist Association said tour agents in many countries have told its members that Thailand is now associated with high use of cannabis, which is not desired by family travellers.” reported Bangkok Post in its local coverage. “The private sector proposed that authorities improve control of the plant by limiting the number of spots for using cannabis.”

“In May, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said cannabis users in Thailand would be required to have medical certificates, ensuring its use for medical purposes only, if the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s version of the law is passed.” the outlet reported.

Thailand Health Minister: ‘Cannabis Users Will Need Medical Certificates’

Written by Johnny Green on May 21, 2025. Posted in Policy.

In recent years, Thailand’s cannabis industry has increased in size and scope thanks to a cannabis policy change in 2022. However, Thailand’s Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin stated at a press conference today that the nation’s government is likely to implement new regulations soon, including requiring cannabis retailers to limit sales to customers who have a medical prescription.

“Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin says cannabis users in Thailand will be required to have medical certificates to make sure that the plant is used for medical purposes only.” reported Bangkok Post in its local coverage.

“I will improve regulations on cannabis use in Thailand. For example, cannabis smokers may have to show medical certificates. Foreign and Thai cannabis users must have medical certificates,” Minister Somsak said, according to the media outlet.

Starting in 1979, cannabis was scheduled as a class-5 narcotic under Thailand’s Narcotic Act. The Act prohibited smoking, possessing, and selling cannabis. Thailand later legalized medical cannabis in 2019, and in 2022, Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul issued a ministerial regulation removing cannabis from Thailand’s list of narcotic drugs.

Thailand’s historic cannabis policy shift in 2022 was supposed to pave the way for the nation’s emerging cannabis industry to become a regional and international powerhouse, and to some degree, that is what happened.

At one point, every household in the entire country could sign up to legally cultivate low-THC cannabis plants, which a reported 1.1 million citizens of Thailand did. Public Health Minister Charnvirakul indicated that there would be no plant limit for the government’s cannabis cultivation program. Thailand’s government also gave away over 1 million cannabis seeds directly to households that signed up for the program.

A broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand agreed to do their part to push Thailand’s emerging cannabis industry forward after the 2022 policy change. But that was under the previous government. Thailand’s new government has taken a much different position on cannabis policy.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has pushed to recriminalize cannabis in Thailand since it took power, although the push has faced opposition from its coalition partner. Changes to Thailand’s cannabis policies have seemingly been announced multiple times over the last year, but actual changes have yet to occur. Only time will tell what happens next, and with it, how Thailand’s emerging industry will be impacted.

Cannabis Oil Mitigates Osteoarthritis Knee Pain In Clinical Trial

Written by Frank Schuler on December 22, 2024. Posted in Science.

Unfortunately, knee injuries are common worldwide, especially within the sports community and among older individuals. Researchers estimate that knee injuries account for as much as 41% of all sports-related injuries for athletes.

Many knee injuries result in the affected patient developing osteoarthritis in the injured knee. An estimated 365 million people worldwide suffer from knee osteoarthritis, which can be very painful for the individual suffering from the condition.

A team of researchers in Thailand recently conducted a clinical trial involving the use of cannabis-infused oil among patients suffering from osteoarthritis knee pain. Below is more information about the clinical trial and its results via a news release from NORML:

Sukhothai, Thailand: The sublingual administration of oil extracts containing plant-derived cannabinoids significantly reduces knee pain in subjects suffering from treatment-resistant osteoarthritis, according to clinical data published in the Journal of Southeast Asian Orthopaedics.

A team of Thai investigators conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 32 patients diagnosed with severe osteoarthritic knee pain. All the participants in the study were awaiting total knee arthroplasty. Participants consumed either oral extracts containing THC (4.59 mg/drop) and CBD (24.25 mg/drop) or a placebo (coconut oil) for 30 days in addition to traditional prescription medications.

Patients’ pain scores “demonstrated a statistically significant improvement” following cannabis treatment, researchers reported.

The study’s authors concluded: “Cannabis oil significantly reduced pain intensity and improved the QOL [quality of life] in patients with knee OA, as reflected by improvements in the NRS [Numeric Rating Scale]and KOOS [Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome] scores. … Future research with optimized dosages, larger sample sizes, and longer follow-up periods is needed to evaluate its true clinical relevance.”

Full text of the study, “Effectiveness of cannabis oil as an adjuvant therapy in patients with severe knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blind study,” appears in the Journal of Southeast Asian Orthopaedics. Additional information on cannabis and arthritis is available from NORML’s publication, Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids.

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Transdermal Cannabis Mitigates Diabetic Neuropathy In Clinical Trial

Written by Frank Schuler on December 21, 2024. Posted in Science.

Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that can happen in patients who suffer from diabetes. International researchers estimate that roughly 536.6 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Health investigators around the world are researching how medical cannabis products and diabetes interact at an ever-increasing rate, and many studies are finding that medical cannabis can help treat diabetes to some degree.

A team of researchers in Thailand recently conducted a clinical trial focusing on transdermal cannabis products and patients who suffer from diabetic neuropathy. Below is more information about the results of the study and its findings via a news release from NORML:

Khon Kaen, Thailand: The transdermal application of oil extracts containing plant-derived cannabinoids significantly reduces diabetic neuropathy, according to clinical data published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

A team of Thai investigators conducted a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 100 patients diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy of the lower extremities. Participants received either transdermal formulations containing THC (3.20 mg/drop), CBD (0.32 mg/drop), and CBN (0.65 mg/drop) or a placebo (coconut oil) for 12 weeks. Subjects’ pain levels were assessed at baseline and at four, eight, and 12 weeks.

“Mean total NPSI-T (Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory) scores decreased markedly from 25.60 to 5.57 in the treatment cohort, contrasting with minimal reduction from 25.24 to 22.85 in the placebo group,” researchers reported. “GEE (Generalized Estimating Equation) analysis revealed significant pain amelioration at weeks 4, 8, and 12. The cannabis formulation exhibited an excellent safety profile, with only 10 percent of participants reporting mild adverse events, comparable to placebo group outcomes.”

The study’s authors concluded: “This novel transdermal medical cannabis formulation (consisting of THC, CBD, and CBN) demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating painful DPN [diabetic peripheral neuropathy] symptoms while maintaining a favorable safety profile. These findings provide robust clinical evidence supporting its potential as an innovative therapeutic option for managing painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.”

Prior studies have similarly shown that a wide range of cannabis formulations, including vaporized cannabis flower, oral CBD extracts, and aerosolized THC can mitigate neuropathic pain.

Full text of the study, “Efficacy and safety of transdermal medical cannabis (THC: CBD: CBN formula) to treat painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities,” appears in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids.

Topical Cannabis Cream Mitigates Pruritus In Thai Clinical Trial

Written by Frank Schuler on October 13, 2024. Posted in Science.

Pruritus is a medical term for ‘itching.’ While pruritus can develop for a multitude of reasons, it is fairly common among patients with chronic kidney disease. According to a June 2024 study, the worldwide prevalence of pruritus is 39.8%.

The number of people suffering from chronic kidney disease around the globe is roughly 800 million people according to a study from 2022, although it is unknown how many of those suffering patients also suffer from pruritus.

A team of researchers in Thailand recently conducted a clinical trial involving topical cannabis cream containing both CBD and THC, with the cream being used by chronic kidney disease patients experiencing pruritus. Below is more information about the results of the clinical trial via a news release from NORML:

Pathum Thani, Thailand: The topical application of a cream containing CBD and THC reduces itch severity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated pruritus, according to placebo-controlled clinical data published in the journal Kidney Medicine.

Investigators associated with Thammasat University in Thailand assessed the use of a cannabis-infused cream versus placebo in pruritus patients. Subjects were administered either the cream or the placebo for four weeks. Patients were assessed at baseline and at two weeks and four weeks.

Compared to the placebo group, kidney disease patients using the cannabis-infused cream experienced less itching and improved quality of life.

The study’s authors concluded: “This study demonstrated that a cannabis-containing cream might be an effective treatment for CKD-associated pruritus in hemodialysis patients with limited adverse side effects. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer durations of follow-up are suggested to ensure the reliability of the results, especially regarding itch-related quality of life.”

Full text of the study, “Cannabis-containing cream for CKD-associated pruritus: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial,” appears in Kidney Medicine.

Thailand Reverses Course And Will Regulate Cannabis Instead Of Prohibit It

Written by Hazel Norman on July 30, 2024. Posted in Policy.

In recent years Thailand has served as arguably the wildest nation on earth from a cannabis public policy observer standpoint. For many decades, Thailand had some of the harshest cannabis laws on the planet, which is why it was such a tectonic shift when Thailand decriminalized cannabis in June 2022.

Since June 2022, cannabis commerce has increased across many parts of Thailand, and the country is now a top international cannabis tourism destination. The increase in cannabis activity has resulted in calls by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to reverse course and reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, even though Thailand’s cannabis policies are working as intended.

A broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand agreed to do their part to push Thailand’s emerging cannabis industry forward after the 2022 policy change. Researchers estimate that Thailand’s 2022 policy change resulted in roughly 12,000 cannabis dispensaries opening nationwide. The dispensaries operate on three-year licenses from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicines and employ an estimated 60,000 people.

Mere weeks ago, Thailand was set to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic. However, in recent days Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin indicated that his prohibition policy pursuit would be abandoned, and instead of re-banning cannabis in Thailand, lawmakers would seek to properly regulate the nation’s emerging industry.

“According to the source, Srettha instructed Somsak to push for a bill to regulate the use of marijuana instead of reinstating the plant on the list of Category 5 Narcotics. The aim of the bill should be to ensure marijuana is used for medical purposes, research and for certain products.” stated The Nation in its local reporting.

Thailand was at risk of being the first nation in modern history to decriminalize cannabis and then re-criminalize it. Cannabis opponents around the globe were starting to point to Thailand as ‘evidence’ of ‘failed cannabis reform.’ They will now have to pivot their arguments, which will be no easy task given the fact that cannabis policy modernization is succeeding in many parts of the world.

Currently, cannabis is expressly legal for adult use at the national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. Additionally, regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot programs are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and cannabis is legal for adult use in 24 U.S. states and Washington D.C.

Thailand’s cannabis policy differs from the previously mentioned jurisdictions in that only low-THC cannabis varieties are permitted.

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Thailand Committee Votes To Reclassify Cannabis As A Narcotic Effective January 1st

Written by Hazel Norman on July 8, 2024. Posted in Policy.

The wild cannabis public policy ride continues in Thailand where a key committee voted this week to officially reclassify cannabis and hemp as a narcotic in the country. Thailand adopted a historic cannabis reform measure in June 2022 that removed cannabis from the nation’s narcotics list.

Starting January 1st, 2025, cannabis will be reclassified as a narcotic in Thailand according to the committee-approved plan, and not just cannabis varieties that are high in THC. Even floral hemp that is low in THC will be classified as a narcotic in Thailand. Per excerpts from Bangkok Post:

The resolution stated that cannabis and hemp are to be regarded as narcotic plants except for their branches, roots and seeds. Cannabis buds and any materials containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will also be classified as narcotics.

“If the Office of the Narcotic Control Board agrees with our conclusion, the next step will be for the Food and Drug Administration to amend any cannabis-related laws and set up criteria for how the plants can be used.

The potential law reversal in Thailand comes at a time when cannabis policy modernization efforts are gaining momentum in other parts of the world. The first provisions of Germany’s adult-use legalization law took effect on April 1st, 2024, and South Africa recently adopted a limited recreational cannabis legalization measure the following month.

In addition to Germany and South Africa, cannabis is also legal for adult use in Uruguay (2013), Canada (2018), Malta (2021), and Luxembourg (2023). Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating in the Netherlands and Switzerland, and nearly half of the states in the U.S. have approved recreational cannabis legalization measures.

Thailand’s expected policy change serves as a sobering reminder to cannabis advocates around the world that there is still a considerable amount of work to do in order to not only ensure that harmful cannabis prohibition policies are eliminated, but also, that the policy changes remain in place.