On June 23, 2025, the Thai Ministry of Public Health issued a new Cannabis Announcement under the Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) Act B.E. 2568, replacing the previous version from November 2022. As always, socials and media headlines leaned toward the sensational spreading once again panic — but for those working closely with Laws and Regulation in Thailand, this announcement contains nothing unexpected.
The Full Text of the Cannabis Announcement
Ministry of Public Health Announcement Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) Act B.E. 2568 (unofficial translation)
Whereas it is appropriate to amend the Ministry of Public Health Announcement on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) B.E. 2565 dated November 11, B.E. 2565, which stipulates cannabis as a controlled herb that is valuable for study or research or economically important, to be appropriate for the current situation, in addition to the fact that currently there is no law to specifically control it to prevent its use for purposes other than its intended purpose. Therefore, there should be controls to prevent the use of cannabis, specifically the flower buds, for purposes other than the intended use of such herbs.
By virtue of the powers under Section 4, paragraph one, Section 44, and Section 45 (3), (4), (5) and (6) of the Act on Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom B.E. 2542 (1999), the Minister of Public Health, with the advice of the Committee on Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom, hereby issues the following announcement:
Section 1. This announcement shall come into force from the day following its publication in the Government Gazette onwards.
Section 2. The Ministry of Public Health’s announcement on controlled herbs (cannabis) B.E. 2565 dated 11 November B.E. 2565 shall be repealed.
Section 3. Cannabis, which is a plant in the Cannabis genus, Cannabaceae family, only the flower buds are controlled herbs.
Section 4. Any person who wishes to study, research, export, sell or process controlled herbs for commercial purposes may do so only after receiving a license under Section 46, and the licensee must comply with the following conditions:
(1) A licensee to study, research, export, sell or process controlled herbs for trade must prepare information about the source, use and quantity kept at the business premises and report that information to the registrar in the form announced by the Director-General.
(2) A licensee to export controlled herbs for trade must notify the exporter of the details of each export on a case-by-case basis in the form announced by the Director-General.
(3) A licensee to sell or process controlled herbs for trade must sell controlled herbs only to licensees under Section 46.
(4) The distribution and export of controlled herbs by a licensee must come from a source that has been certified for good cultivation and harvesting standards by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
(5) It is prohibited to sell controlled herbs for smoking in the business premises, except for sales by medical practitioners under the Medical Profession Act, Thai Traditional Medicine practitioners, Applied Thai Traditional Medicine practitioners, and folk doctors under the Thai Traditional Medicine Profession Act, Chinese medicine practitioners under the Medical Practice Act and dentists under the Dental Profession Act, which are used in treating their patients.
(6) It is prohibited to sell controlled herbs or products processed from controlled herbs for commercial purposes through vending machines, electronic channels or computer networks.
(7) Advertising of controlled herbs is prohibited in all channels for commercial purposes.
(8) It is prohibited to sell controlled herbs or products processed from controlled herbs for commercial purposes in the following places:
(a) A temple or place for performing religious ceremonies.
(b) Dormitories in accordance with the Dormitory Act
(c) Public parks, zoos and amusement parks.
The sale of controlled herbs for trade under paragraph one (3) does not include the sale of controlled herbs to any person with a prescription from a medical practitioner under the law on medical professions, a Thai traditional medicine practitioner, a Thai traditional medicine practitioner, and a folk doctor under the law on Thai traditional medicine, a Chinese medicine practitioner under the law on medical practice, a pharmacy practitioner under the law on pharmacy, and a dentist under the law on dentistry for medical purposes.
The order under paragraph two shall specify the amount or quantity of use as necessary for specific treatment, which shall not exceed thirty days.
Section 5. Licensees under Section 46 prior to the effective date of this announcement, specifically in the part that is controlled herbs under this announcement, must comply with the conditions specified in Section 3 of this announcement.
Section 5 Reporting format, notification format for details of controlled herbal exports per time, and payment order format shall be in accordance with the format announced by the Director-General.
Announced on June 23, 2025
Our Take on the Announcement of 23 June 2025
- No Surprises: Recreational Use was never legal
Despite the tone adopted by some news outlets, this announcement does not introduce new prohibitions, but rather reinforces what professionals in the field have known since late 2023: cannabis flower buds are a controlled herb, and recreational use has never been legally permitted—only tolerated. Smoking cannabis in shops, vending machine sales, online distribution, and sales to minors have never been lawful. This announcement simply reiterates and enforces those established rules.
- GACP Certification Is Now Mandatory
Another reaffirmed point is the requirement for Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) certification for cultivation. This is not a sudden change. Since 2023, we at Siam Trade Development have emphasized this requirement in every cannabis workshop and seminar. While some growers followed shortcuts offered by unethical consultants promising cheap, unrecognized certifications, only 67 companies have received Thai FDA-approved GACP certification so far.
The reality? GACP certification typically takes at least 6 months for a compliant facility—often longer. Now that it’s strictly required, DTAM is expected to be overwhelmed with new applications, leading to long delays.
- Prescriptions Were Always Part of the Plan
That cannabis consumption would eventually require a prescription has been clear for over two years. Yet many businesses waited, hoping for a different outcome. In practice, obtaining a prescription won’t be difficult, and may be as straightforward as a driver’s license medical exam.
- The Real Threat: Recriminalization Under Narcotics Act
What is alarming is the government’s stated intent to return cannabis to Category 5 of the Narcotics Act. This would dismantle 8 years of progress, destroy a legal industry that has brought investment, employment, and tax revenue to Thailand, and send the wrong message to international investors.
If Thailand were to turn its back on thousands of investors and businesses it previously welcomed, it would risk losing credibility. Such actions are characteristic of unstable regimes and would seriously harm the country’s international reputation. Thailand deserves better.
Stay updated with our ongoing coverage of cannabis regulations in Thailand.
