Thailand’s cannabis policy is once again moving toward tighter regulation, as the governmentpushes for legislation that would formally restrict cannabis use primarily to medical purposes. The proposed cannabis-control bill reflects a significant development in Thailand’s regulatory approach following the removal of cannabis from the Category 5 of narcotics list in June 2022. Rather than returning cannabis entirely to the narcotics regime, the proposed framework seeks to establish a dedicated legal structure governing cultivation, production, distribution, sale and use, while placing greater emphasis on medical and public-health considerations.
The proposed legislation should also be viewed against the regulatory tightening that has already taken place. Since June 2025, cannabis flower has been treated as a controlled herb under the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Knowledge Act B.E. 2542, bringing commercial activities involving cannabis flower under a more formal licensing regime. The Ministerial Regulation (No. 2) B.E. 2569, published in April 2026, further introduced specific requirements for businesses seeking to sell, process or export cannabis flower. These include requirements concerning the premises, dedicated storage, qualifying business or professional status, trained personnel and effective odour and smoke elimination systems. Existing licences remain valid until expiry, but renewal is subject to the strengthened requirements.
From a legal perspective, the proposed bill is important because it may resolve the regulatory uncertainty created by the post-2022 transition. The removal of cannabis from the narcotics list significantly expanded commercial activity, but the absence of a comprehensive cannabis-specific statute created a fragmented regulatory environment in which different aspects of the industry could fall under different laws, including the traditional medicine, herbal products, drug and narcotics regimes. A dedicated cannabis-control law could consolidate these controls and provide clearer statutory authority over cultivation, supply chains, dispensing, advertising and consumption. This would also allow the Government to distinguish more clearly between legitimate medical activities and activities considered to constitute recreational or inappropriate use.
Ultimately, Thailand’s evolving cannabis policy demonstrates a broader shift from liberalisation toward regulated commercial use. The Government appears increasingly focused on preserving legitimate medical and economic benefits while reducing the public-health and social risks associated with unrestricted access. If enacted, the proposed cannabis-control bill could provide a more stable statutory foundation for this policy by replacing the fragmented post-2022 regulatory environment with a dedicated framework. For Thailand’s legal landscape, the key issue will be whether the new framework can achieve an appropriate balance between public-health protection, enforceable regulatory standards and the legitimate commercial interests that developed during the country’s initial cannabis liberalisation.
Thailand’s Cannabis Policy Moves Toward a More Controlled Medical Framework_Bangkok Global Law