Cannabis Prescription System Enforced in Thailand
Thailand’s government has been playing ping pong with cannabis policies for the last three months, if not the last three years. Saying that the kingdom’s lawmakers are inspired by the weather, it would be an understatement. With recreational use officially out, the main dilemma of Thai officials was how to regulate medicinal use.
The proposal for medical marijuana certificates was in and out several times over, and now Thai officials have finally unveiled how it’s gonna look. A special press conference was held July 8, where a government representative announced the new ‘Cannabis Prescription’ system rolled out by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). The system was subsequently tested the next day, July 9, serving 50 cannabis ‘patients.’
Cannabis Prescriptions Can Be Obtained from Herbalist Doctors
Prescriptions are fairly easy to obtain it seems. Basically you need a traditional herbalist doctor working at a clinic to prescribe medical cannabis for you. So far it’s free as far as we know. With a prescription, patients can go to any Thai cannabis shop where they give it to the vendor and can come back for a month.
“These policies won’t negatively impact the 18,000 shops already operating,” a government spokesperson said. “We will work closely with retailers and local health offices to ensure everyone understands the changes.”
Local Thai dispensaries have taken the new measure light-heartedly, with a good dose of humor. “One symptom that qualifies for a prescription is the paralyzing anxiety caused by the ever-changing broccoli laws!” one dispensary wrote in its notice for customers informing them that they need prescriptions as of July 1.
This latest cannabis policy change in Thailand is being implemented while the country is in a political crisis. The Constitutional Court of Thailand suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a phone conversation between her and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen leaked. The Bhumjaithai Party, which led the government in 2022 when cannabis was legalized, has in the meantime withdrawn from the current ruling coalition.
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Stephen Andrews
