In a striking parallel to tightened cannabis regulations, Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has banned kratom sales within 1 kilometer of schools, effective October 12, 2025. This move highlights the government’s focus on protecting youth amid the liberalization of traditional substances. For businesses navigating Thailand’s evolving herbal market, these restrictions underscore the need for compliance-driven strategies to balance opportunity with regulation.
The Kratom Ban: A Targeted Safeguard
The ONCB directive prohibits kratom product sales—leaves, teas, plants, and drinks—near educational institutions, as well as via mobile stalls, vehicles, or temporary public setups. Rooted in the Kratom Plant Act B.E. 2565 (2022), which decriminalized kratom in 2021 for its cultural and medical value (e.g., pain relief, opioid withdrawal support), the policy aims to curb youth access.
Pol Maj Suriya Singhagamol, ONCB secretary-general, stated: “The ban is not to suppress the kratom trade but to ensure its proper use and safeguard public health, particularly to prevent young people from gaining easy access.” Violators face fines up to 50,000 baht, with enforcement by regional ONCB offices and public reporting via a hotline.
Building on the 2022 Act’s existing limits on advertising and narcotic mixtures, the new rule targets roadside stalls near schools. Businesses must now map operations to avoid restricted zones, and must have a fixed address to be able to sell the plant.
Echoes in Cannabis Policy: Medical Focus and Youth Barriers
Kratom’s restrictions mirror cannabis regulations, which was tightened in June 2025. After decriminalization in 2022 Cannabis fueled a $1 billion industry with over 11,000 dispensaries, cannabis flowers were reclassified as a “controlled herb” under the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Knowledge Act B.E. 2542 (1999). Recreational use is banned, with sales limited to medical purposes via 30-day prescriptions.
Both substances face bans on sales near schools, temples, parks, and dormitories. Cannabis rules also prohibit online sales, vending machines, and on-site consumption, akin to kratom’s curbs on mobile vending. Penalties for cannabis violations are harsher—up to one year in prison and 20,000 baht fines, plus 25,000 baht daily fines for noncompliant businesses. Recent enforcement has closed dozens of uncertified Bangkok dispensaries as well as dispensaries selling edibles and extracts in excess of the legally allowed THC levels.
Both the Cannabis and Kratom frameworks emphasize medical use and youth protection, requiring licenses, Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) certification, and monthly reporting to agencies like the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. Cannabis THC limits (0.2% in extracts) parallel kratom’s mitragynine caps (1 mg daily in herbal products).
| Aspect | Kratom (Kratom Plant Act 2022) | Cannabis (2025 Controlled Herb Rules) |
| Legal Status | Decriminalized; licensed production/sale for traditional/medical use | Medical-only; recreational banned; flowers controlled |
| School Proximity Ban | 1 km radius; no mobile/public sales near institutions | Prohibited near schools, temples, parks, etc. No mobile sales. |
| Penalties | Up to 50,000 baht fine | Up to 1 year jail + 20,000 baht; 25,000 baht/day fines |
| Age Restrictions | Implicit via youth protection; no sales to minors | No sales to under-20s, pregnant/breastfeeding women |
| Licensing/Reporting | MOJ oversight; FDA for food/herbals | GACP certification; monthly reports to D-TAM |
Implications for Businesses: Compliance as Competitive Edge
Thailand’s “liberalize but regulate” approach positions kratom and cannabis as economic drivers while addressing risks like youth misuse. Kratom’s low approval numbers signal market potential, while cannabis’s medical shift favors licensed cultivators. However, noncompliance risks audits, seizures, and blacklisting, with oversight from the Ministry of Justice (kratom) and Public Health (cannabis).
Businesses must label products with warnings, and use GIS tools to avoid restricted zones. SILQ recommends regulatory audits, local counsel for licensing, and monitoring Royal Gazette updates.
Looking Ahead: A Balanced Herbal Horizon
Thailand’s kratom and cannabis policies—from bans to buffered liberalization—reflect a maturing framework that honors tradition while embracing modern regulation. With global demand rising (kratom exports poised for growth), Kratom may become the cash crop that Cannabis was supposed to be. The mandate from the government is clear: protect youth, empower licensed operators, and report noncompliance, while facilitating trade.
SILQ, Thailand’s premier business law firm, specializes in regulatory compliance for emerging sectors. Contact us at [email protected] for expert guidance on kratom, cannabis, and beyond.
Sources:
- Bangkok Post on ONCB kratom ban (October 2025)