Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has introduced stricter regulations for medical cannabis, reshaping the way patients and businesses can access the industry.
Key Changes in Regulation
At a press conference on September 1, 2025, Dr. Somruek Chungsaman, Director-General of the department, announced that medical cannabis will now be limited to five approved conditions only:
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Insomnia
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Chronic pain
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Migraines
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Parkinson’s disease
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Loss of appetite
Patients must obtain a prescription to access cannabis flower buds, and prescriptions are valid for up to 30 days.
Stricter Rules for Dispensaries
The new regulations, which took effect in June 2025, also impose tighter requirements on dispensaries:
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Must be licensed and regulated
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Can only source from certified farms
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Online sales and vending machines are banned
This overhaul comes as about 12,000 dispensaries face license renewals by the end of the year. Businesses will need to meet higher standards or risk closure.
Training & Digital Oversight
To ensure compliance, the department is also:
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Training new medical staff, including “budtenders” who specialize in cannabis dispensing.
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Developing a telemedicine system that links prescriptions to a central database, preventing abuse, repeat prescriptions, and unauthorized use.
What This Means for the Industry
Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, sparking a boom in dispensaries and farms. But concerns about misuse and youth access have driven policymakers to adopt a more controlled, medical-focused approach.
While this means stricter compliance for businesses, it also positions Thailand as a serious global player in regulated medical cannabis. For patients, it ensures safer, more standardized access to cannabis for genuine health needs.