The Ministry of Public Health has begun a full transition to ensuring cannabis use in Thailand will be for medicinal purposes only, allowing dispensaries a three-year timeframe to convert into medical clinics in order to continue operating.
The announcement signals the beginning of the end to four years of legal uncertainty and frequent policy flip-flops that followed the decriminalisation of cannabis.
Cannabis clinics would be regulated under the Medical Facilities Act, Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said on Wednesday.
The change aims to ensure access to cannabis for medical treatment under the supervision of authorised personnel, including doctors, Thai traditional medicine practitioners and certified staff who have completed relevant training courses.
There are about 11,000 registered cannabis shops nationwide, with their permits set to expire over the next three years, he said, adding that around 40% of permits expire each year.
Public health officials estimated earlier that once the dust settles, there would be about 2,000 licensed clinics remaining.
“We cannot say exactly how many will convert into clinics, but we can say that we have entered the full phase of cannabis being used for medicinal purposes only,” Mr Pattana said in a statement.
He added that the ministry is willing to work with private companies on the development of the cannabis industry.
He noted there is strong demand for premium unprocessed cannabis, or raw cannabis flowers, which can be used for further extraction or processing.
Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022 but has struggled to regulate and contain its use.
Creating a cannabis economy was a flagship policy of Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul. He issued a ministerial announcement removing cannabis from the narcotics list in 2022 when he was the public health minister in the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
However, the absence of a law and clear regulations led to a free-for-all, with cannabis shops proliferating all over the country. Widespread recreational use, especially in tourist areas, has led to frequent public complaints.
Four years later, there is still no law, although it is expected that Mr Anutin and Bhumjaithai will move to clarify the legislation once the government he heads formally takes office later this month.
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