BANGKOK — 16 May 2026, Thailand has introduced stricter regulations governing cannabis businesses, limiting licences for medical cannabis activities to registered medical facilities, pharmacies and herbal medicine shops, health officials said.
The Public Health Ministry said the new ministerial regulation, which took effect this year, strengthens oversight of cannabis classified as a controlled herbal substance.
Under the rules, only legally registered healthcare facilities, pharmacies and herbal product stores may apply for licences to study, export, distribute or process cannabis for commercial purposes.
Dr. Tewan Thaneerat, deputy director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, said the measures were designed to improve public safety and ensure cannabis use remains under professional supervision.
Officials said traditional Thai medicine practitioners and licensed folk healers may continue using cannabis flower buds to treat patients, but only under tighter controls.
Dispensing cannabis products now requires an official prescription form, with supplies limited to a maximum of 30 days per patient. Businesses must also retain records for at least one year for inspection purposes.
Licensed premises are required to employ staff trained in basic medical cannabis knowledge during operating hours and must store cannabis flowers separately from the floor with effective odour and smoke control systems.
Authorities said businesses previously suspended or stripped of licences could be denied future licence renewals.
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said it regulates only cannabis flower buds as controlled herbal products. Exporters and distributors must also obtain cultivation and harvesting certification approved by the department.
Officials said the new rules aim to create clearer medical cannabis standards while supporting the long-term development of Thailand’s herbal medicine industry under legal oversight.
