Thailand moves to recriminalize cannabis industry

A sweeping regulatory change is set to dramatically reshape Thailand's burgeoning cannabis industry, with an estimated 12,000 cannabis flower shops facing potential closure as their current operating licenses expire later this year.

New draft ministerial regulations from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine will mandate the presence of specific medical professionals at these establishments.

Somruek Chungsaman, general director of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, announced on June 30 that a new departmental notification regarding cannabis flower prescriptions is imminent. Once published in the Royal Gazette, this notification will introduce a stricter prescription form.