Public Health Minister Pushes Medical Cannabis Bill, Addresses Illicit Shops

Matichon•General•19d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's Public Health Minister champions a new cannabis bill focused solely on medical use, while acknowledging current challenges with unregistered shops and illegal exports.

•Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the government's commitment to medical-grade cannabis only.
•A new Cannabis and Hemp Bill, covering cultivation to penalties, is in preparation and has undergone public hearings.
•The minister admitted to challenges with unregistered shops and the use of fake permits, with over 6,000 expired licenses.
•Measures are being implemented to combat illegal sales, including electronic permit verification and increased inspection personnel.

Overview

•Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul reiterated that the Bhumjaithai Party's cannabis policy exclusively targets medical applications in order to ensure controlled access.
•The draft Cannabis and Hemp Control Act B.E. ... is awaiting parliamentary consideration, having completed public hearings at the beginning of the previous month.
•Current legal frameworks, specifically the Herbs Protection and Promotion Act and various ministerial regulations, regulate sales, distribution, and extraction but do not definitively cover cultivation, necessitating a new bill.
•The new Cannabis and Hemp Control Act will introduce significant penalties for violations in order to deter illicit activities.
•Minister Anutin Charnvirakul warned that despite cannabis not being classified as a narcotic in Thailand, many destination countries still have strict drug laws, posing risks for illegal exports.
•Collaborations between the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine and the Customs Department, as well as the Airports of Thailand, are ongoing to combat illegal exports.
•Approximately 6,000 shops out of 18,000 licensed shops had expired permits by the end of 2025 (2025), with an estimated 1,500 shops having renewed their licenses.
•The Ministry of Public Health has ordered the deployment of tens of thousands of additional personnel from police and local administrative organizations to conduct inspections and enforcement operations.

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Key Quotes

Anutin Charnvirakul

"The Bhumjaithai Party's cannabis policy will be strictly for medical purposes only."

นโยบายกัญชาของพรรคภูมิใจไทย จะเป็นกัญชาทางการด้านการแพทย์เท่านั้น

Anutin Charnvirakul

"Although cannabis is not currently a narcotic in Thailand, many destination countries still classify it as a narcotic."

แม้ปัจจุบันกัญชาในประเทศไทยจะไม่ใช่ยาเสพติด แต่ในประเทศปลายทางที่เดินทางไป หลายประเทศยังคงเป็นยาเสพติดอยู่

Anutin Charnvirakul

"If any shop is not in these categories, it means it is an unregistered shop and can be arrested immediately."

หากร้านใดไม่อยู่ในหมวดเหล่านี้ แสดงว่าเป็นร้านค้าที่ไม่ได้ขึ้นทะเบียนอย่างถูกต้อง สามารถจับกุมได้ทันที

Key Entities

Person

Minister of Public Health(รมว.สธ.)

The government minister responsible for health policies and overseeing the cannabis regulations in Thailand.

Anutin Charnvirakul(นายพัฒนา พร้อมพัฒน์)ℹ️

The Minister of Public Health who is actively pushing for a medical cannabis policy and a new control bill.

Organization

Bhumjaithai Party(พรรคภูมิใจไทย)ℹ️

The political party whose cannabis policy is being championed by the Minister of Public Health, focusing strictly on medical use.

Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine(กรมการแพทย์แผนไทยและแพทย์ทางเลือก)

The government department involved in coordinating with customs and airport authorities to prevent illegal cannabis exports.

Customs Department(กรมศุลกากร)ℹ️

The agency collaborating with the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine to intercept illegal cannabis shipments.

Airports of Thailand(การท่าอากาศยานแห่งประเทศไทย)ℹ️

The entity responsible for airport operations, working with authorities to prevent the illegal export of cannabis.

Law

Cannabis Bill(พ.ร.บ.กัญชา)

The proposed legislation aimed at controlling cannabis from cultivation to its use, with a focus on medical applications.

Cannabis and Hemp Bill(พ.ร.บ.กัญชา กัญชง)

The specific draft legislation being prepared to regulate cannabis and hemp cultivation and use in Thailand.

Timeline

2025

The year referenced for the number of licensed cannabis shops that expired.

2026

The year when a portion of cannabis licenses are set to expire, indicating ongoing regulatory cycles.

2027

The year when another portion of cannabis licenses are set to expire, indicating ongoing regulatory cycles.