In an expected reversal, the Thai government is now reclassifying cannabis flower as “controlled herbs”, with tighter licensing requirements, and is banned for public sale.
In a The Nation news article, the Public Health Ministry issued the reversal following a mandate from PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra during a recent Cabinet meeting. This move is in response to rising concerns over widespread misuse of the leaves. The revision now limits the use to medical applications only.
The ministry’s announcement on cannabis 2025 was signed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepustin and will take immediate effect upon publication in the Royal Gazette. This revokes the 2022 ministerial order that removes cannabis from Category 5 narcotics list under the Narcotics Act.
Included in the revised reclassification are first, only the flowering parts of the cannabis plant are classified as controlled herbs. Second, with licensing requirements, individuals or organizations wishing to research, export, sell or process cannabis flowers must obtain a licence under Section 46 of the Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Protection and Promotion Act. License holders are required to document the source, intended use, and quantity stored, and must submit regular reports to the registrar.
With sales restrictions, only licensed entities can sell the cannabis flower and must originate from sources “certified under Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) through the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.