The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has formally received a set of proposals from the Thai Cannabis Future Network and established a collaborative working group to review key regulatory points.
The meeting took place on October 8, 2028, at the MOPH, where a delegation from the Thai Cannabis Future Network, led by President Ms. Chokhwan Chorpaka and Secretary-General Mr. Prasit Chai Noonuan, presented their concerns to senior ministry officials, including Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Sakda Alaphat.
This follows the network’s earlier submission of a formal letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government to advance the draft Cannabis and Hemp Act for parliamentary consideration.
Key Proposals for Regulatory Reform
The network presented three main proposals for immediate review:
- Revocation of Medical Prescription Requirement
The network requested the removal of the requirement for a medical prescription or certificate to purchase cannabis flowers. They argue this mandate medicalizes all consumers, creating unnecessary barriers for adults using cannabis for general wellness rather than specific diagnosed conditions. They highlighted operational loopholes, including the widespread sale of prescriptions, and proposed replacing the prescription system with an annual consumer permit for health use, decoupling access from mandatory patient status.
- Revision of Cultivation Standards
The network called for revising the cultivation standards issued by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. They propose exempting cultivators certified under a specific Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standard from redundant and costly mandatory laboratory testing of their flower products.
- Opposition to Classifying Retail Outlets as Healthcare Facilities
The network strongly opposed a previous draft ministerial regulation that would classify cannabis retail outlets as healthcare facilities. They warned that this would impose prohibitively high operational and infrastructural costs, potentially forcing most of the estimated 10,000 licensed shops to close, disproportionately harming small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of the legal retail market.
Ministry’s Response
The Ministry of Public Health has demonstrated a commitment to a consultative process. Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Sakda Alaphat confirmed that the ministry has accepted all proposals for formal review.
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has been tasked with leading a comprehensive, two-week review of the network’s recommendations. The findings will be compiled into a preliminary report for the consideration of the Minister of Public Health, Mr. Phatthana Prommat.