Nearly 90% Of Thailand Cannabis Stores Expected To Close
At the start of this year, Thailand was one of the top legal cannabis markets on the planet, becoming so after a landmark policy change a few years ago. In 2022, Thailand made history by becoming the first country in the Southeast Asia region to modernize its cannabis policies and remove cannabis from its narcotics list.
Unfortunately, the glory days of Thailand’s modern cannabis industry appear to be over, at least for now.
“The new regulations – set to be enforced by the end of the year – would leave about 2,000 of Thailand’s estimated 18,000 cannabis shops in operation, a Ministry of Public Health official said on Tuesday.” reported South China Morning Post this week in its original coverage.
“Cannabis was officially designated a “controlled herb” in June, under an order signed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin. The reclassification means the plant can now only be used with a licensed medical prescription, and all professionals authorised to prescribe it must undergo training approved by the health ministry.” the outlet also reported.
Some international cannabis media coverage has framed the recent public policy changes in Thailand as ‘proof that Thailand’s cannabis industry experiment did not work as designed.’ However, a basic review of Thailand’s approach in the last few years demonstrates that the industry did work as designed by the last government, and that recent changes are actually the result of a new government taking control of the country.
Thailand’s historic cannabis policy shift in 2022 was designed to pave the way for the nation’s emerging cannabis industry to become a regional and international cannabis industry leader. Every household in the entire country could sign up initially to legally cultivate low-THC cannabis plants, which a reported 1.1 million citizens of Thailand had done at one point.
During Thailand’s historic change in 2022, the nation’s Public Health Minister indicated that there would be no plant limit for the government’s cannabis cultivation program. Thailand’s government also gave away over 1 million cannabis seeds directly to households that signed up for the program.
A broad spectrum of government agencies in Thailand agreed to do their part to push the nation’s emerging cannabis industry forward. Researchers estimated at the time that Thailand’s 2022 policy change would result in roughly 12,000 cannabis dispensaries opening nationwide. As we now know, the number ended up being around 18,000 dispensaries by 2025.
All cannabis sales in Thailand will eventually require a medical prescription, and retailers will be required to have an on-site licensed medical professional at every location. All cannabis products in Thailand will be required to be sourced from licensed suppliers and undergo rigorous testing for contaminants.
In addition to requiring tailored training for all cannabis-prescribing medical professionals, all staffers at the nation’s remaining cannabis dispensaries will also have to complete a required training. An estimated 100,000 dispensary staffers are expected to take the necessary training once it is offered.