THAILAND – Activists from the group Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future, led by Prasitchai Nunuan and Chokwan Chopaka, have issued a two-week ultimatum after meeting Deputy Secretary Dr. Sakda Alapach, demanding that current regulations be withdrawn or that the matter be escalated to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Activists set a firm deadline
The activists told the deputy secretary that the regulations introduced under former minister Somsak Thepsutin have effectively paralysed the market. While they emphasised support for measures that prevent misuse, they argued that fair and practical access for all licensed businesses is essential and that the present rules undermine that balance.
Calls to restore 2022 framework
The group outlined concrete demands: remove the classification of cannabis as a controlled plant; reinstate the 2022 regulatory framework that permitted sales without prescriptions; relax onerous laboratory testing requirements for certified growers; and speed up consideration of the long-delayed cannabis bill now ready for parliamentary debate.
Risks of clinic-only sales
Activists warned that a controversial draft proposal to restrict cannabis sales to medical clinics could shrink the number of licensed retail outlets from roughly 10,000 to as few as 100. Such a change, they said, would deliver a fatal blow to thousands of businesses across the supply chain.
Industry voices echo the alarm
Industry representatives have echoed the activists’ concerns, describing the current and proposed rules as sources of severe uncertainty and financial strain. Many small producers and retailers say they would be unable to survive more restrictive rules or prolonged regulatory ambiguity.
Government response and review
Deputy Secretary Dr. Sakda Alapach said the ministry takes the concerns seriously and has instructed the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine to review the existing regulations. The department will report its findings to Health Minister Pattana Promphat once the review is complete.
What is at stake
Observers say the future of Thailand’s cannabis industry hangs in the balance. Potential consequences of inaction or stricter measures include widespread business closures, the loss of thousands of jobs, and setbacks for the country’s more liberal drug-policy approach. Opponents of liberalisation continue to warn of increased drug use among young people if access is loosened.
A decisive fortnight
With the activists’ deadline looming, the coming two weeks will be critical. Will the ministry accede to demands and restore broader access, or will the protesters escalate their complaint to the prime minister? The outcome will shape both the industry’s survival and the broader national debate over regulation and public health.