Thailand is tightening cannabis regulation, drastically reducing retail shops, but ensuring medical patients won’t face shortages.
Thailand has seen the closure of over 7,000 cannabis shops in 2025 due to the implementation of new, stricter ministerial regulations aimed at controlling the commercial use of cannabis.
🌿 Cannabis Regulation in Thailand – Key Updates
- Mass Closures: Over 7,000 cannabis shops shut down in 2025 due to stricter licensing rules.
- Licensing Changes: New ministerial regulation limits legal cannabis sales to four facility types:
- Medical facilities
- Pharmacies
- Herbal product retailers
- Traditional healer workplaces
- As of December 28, 2025, there were 18,433 cannabis businesses; 8,636 licences expired in 2025, but only 1,339 (15.5%) were renewed.
- Further licence expirations are expected in 2026 (4,587) and 2027 (5,210).
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat stated that the previous 2016 regulation no longer reflected the current cannabis landscape, necessitating a dedicated control mechanism to protect consumers and reduce community impacts. Despite the significant reduction in commercial establishments, the ministry assures that patients requiring cannabis for medical conditions will maintain access to their medicine.
The drastic reduction in cannabis shops follows the expiry of 8,636 licences in 2025. Out of these, only 1,339 (approximately 15.5%) were renewed, leaving 7,297 businesses that did not seek renewal. As of December 28, 2025, the total number of cannabis businesses nationwide stood at an estimated 11,136. Looking ahead, 4,587 licences are set to expire in 2026, and 5,210 in 2027, indicating further consolidation within the sector.
The new ministerial regulation aims to “upgrade” establishments by setting stringent criteria for operation. Key requirements include:
- Eligible Facilities: Commercial cannabis activities are now limited to four types of legally designated premises: medical facilities, pharmacies, herbal product retailers, or the workplaces of traditional healers.
- Personnel Standards:
- Doctors are responsible for prescribing cannabis.
- Clearly identified, authorised personnel are required to dispense cannabis to users.
- Establishments must have at least one on-duty staff member at all times who has completed training provided by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
- Operational Requirements:
- Premises must implement effective odour and smoke elimination systems to prevent nuisance to nearby residents.
- Licensed premises must be located on property that the applicant either owns or has legal rights to occupy.
- Storage and Quality Control:
- An appropriately sized warehouse space is required, with cannabis stored separately to avoid contamination.
- Establishments must control temperature and humidity, avoid direct sunlight, and ensure products are not placed directly on the floor.
During the transition period, existing valid licences will remain operational until their expiry. However, any new applications or renewals, once the new regulation takes effect, must immediately comply with the updated criteria.
The Public Health Ministry emphasizes that Thailand possesses sufficient medical personnel and facilities, including hospitals nationwide, to accommodate the demand for medical cannabis, ensuring that patients will not face shortages as dispensing transitions to medical facilities.
