Thailand Mandates Doctors in Cannabis Shops to Ensure Medical Compliance
Thailand mandates cannabis shops to hire doctors and shift focus to medical use, addressing public concerns over unregulated cannabis consumption
Key Points
- 1Thailand requires cannabis shops to hire doctors for medical compliance
- 2New regulations aim to control cannabis use amid rising public concerns
- 3Only authorized doctors can prescribe cannabis under new rules
- 4Cannabis must be sourced from standardized, approved suppliers
- 5IT systems and telemedicine services are being developed for better regulation
Thailand's cannabis industry is on the brink of significant regulatory changes as the government mandates that all cannabis retailers transform into healthcare facilities. Starting later this year, these shops will be required to have a doctor on-site to dispense cannabis, marking a shift from recreational to medicinal use. This move is part of the Ministry of Public Health's effort to address public concerns over the unregulated use of cannabis since its decriminalization
At a recent press conference, Thanakrit Jit-areerat, Secretary to the Minister of Public Health, announced the launch of the Cannabis Prescription system by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). This initiative was tested with 50 patients and aims to formalize cannabis distribution through a controlled prescription system. Thanakrit emphasized the need for control measures due to a tenfold increase in complaints about cannabis use, now affecting 1.5 million people
Under the new Herbal Control Announcement (Cannabis) 2025, only doctors from seven specified medical fields will be authorized to prescribe cannabis. The regulation mandates that all cannabis sold must be from standardized and approved sources to ensure consumer safety. Retailers will need to adapt to selling cannabis only to customers with valid prescriptions, and DTAM has already issued an official prescription form for this purpose
Dr. Somruek Chungsaman, Director-General of DTAM, stated that the new regulations would turn cannabis outlets into healthcare facilities once they take effect. The department plans to train the first batch of 1,000 traditional medicine doctors by July 16 to facilitate the prescription process. Additionally, an IT system is being developed to help retailers track prescriptions and cannabis usage, with plans for telemedicine services in hospitals and clinics also underway