5 hours ago
Last Updated:June 27, 2025, 09:44 IST
Thailand will ban cannabis sales without a medical prescription soon. Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed the order, which awaits publication in the Royal Gazette.
A worker tends to cannabis plants at a farm in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand, July 16, 2024. (AP file photo)
Thailand is all set to impose stricter controls on cannabis by banning its sales without a medical prescription. The move comes three years after Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, leading to a boom in tourism and cannabis-related businesses. However, widespread public backlash over under-regulation and rising addiction, particularly among the youth, has made the government to reconsider its stance.
On Monday, Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed an order prohibiting shops from selling cannabis to customers without valid medical prescriptions. The order also proposes reclassifying cannabis buds as a controlled herb. The order will come into effect once published in the Royal Gazette. However, date is not confirmed for the publication yet.
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18...
Read More
Bangkok, Thailand
First Published:News world Amid Rising Concerns, Thailand Moves To Re-Criminalise Cannabis After 3 Years
