Thailand Cracks Down on Unlicensed Cannabis Shops
Thailand's health minister confirmed the government is cracking down on unlicensed cannabis shops, requiring registered retailers to operate as medical facilities with resident physicians while deploying thousands of inspectors to enforce c
On July 7, Health Minister Patthana Promptpadet confirmed that the Palang Pracharath party's cannabis policy focuses exclusively on medical use. A draft bill controlling cannabis and hemp cultivation is under public consultation but missed consideration in the current parliamentary session. The new law will impose strict penalties for violations and mark the first time cannabis cultivation will be legally regulated, with previous laws only controlling sales, distribution, and extraction.
Promptpadet noted that while Thailand no longer classifies cannabis as a narcotic, many destination countries still do, so exporters must check receiving countries' laws. Officials are coordinating with customs and airport authorities to prevent smuggling, having switched to electronic licenses to reduce fraud.
Regarding registered retailers, Promptpadet reported that of 18,000 shops registered in 2568, approximately 6,000 licenses expired by end-2568, with about 1,500 renewals. Licenses are granted for three-year periods, with roughly 6,000 expiring annually in 2569 and 2570. The Health Ministry is deploying thousands of additional inspectors from police and local authorities.
Promptpadet emphasized that registered shops must upgrade to medical facilities with resident physicians to ensure cannabis is dispensed only to eligible patients. Unauthorized and recreational shops face immediate arrest. The ministry has created a GPS-mapped database of all legitimate registered shops with license expiration dates for enforcement purposes.
