Autorità in Thailandia promettono misure severe contro i prodotti contenenti cannabis dopo l'ospedalizzazione di un bambino
Following a nationwide crackdown by Thailand's Ministry of Health in mid-2025, the sale, production, and distribution of cannabis-infused foods are now subject to strict regulations with severe penalties for violations. The key regulations and penalties are as follows:
- Cannabis use is restricted to medical purposes only: Recreational use is illegal and classified as a criminal offence without a medical prescription from authorized practitioners, including doctors and traditional healers. The maximum prescription duration is limited to 30 days.
- Cannabis flowers are classified as controlled herbs: Licenses are required for research, sales, exports, and processing. Sales must be only between licensed entities and come from sources certified with Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) by Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM).
- Cannabis-infused products in food, sweets, drinks, or other forms must comply with legal THC limits and proper labeling: The Ministry of Public Health has the authority to seize illegal products immediately, impose fines, and refer offenders for criminal prosecution.
- Penalties for unauthorized or improperly labeled cannabis-infused foods include fines up to 30,000 Baht, imprisonment up to three years, or both. If products are found to be manufactured or imported without permission or have dangerous THC levels, they can be classified as “impure food,” with penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and fines up to 20,000 Baht.
- Unlicensed cannabis shops face prosecution, with penalties of up to one year imprisonment, 20,000 Baht fines, or both. Licensed shops breaching conditions risk suspension or revocation of their permits, and regular inspections by the DTAM and related agencies are conducted nationwide.
- Sales of cannabis for smoking are banned in business premises unless done under authorized medical regulations. Growers and exporters must obtain official GACP certification from DTAM; certifications from third parties are not accepted.
The crackdown follows the hospitalization of a two-year-old girl who consumed a cannabis-laced gummy, prompting a renewed push to clear unregulated products from the market and tighten controls on unlicensed vendors. Authorities can seize items, impose fines, and refer cases to the police for further legal action.
The Ministry of Health urges anyone with concerns, or who identifies substandard health products or experiences adverse effects from consumption, to report it via the FDA hotline 1556, any Provincial Public Health Office, or the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
According to data from the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, cannabis smoking among Thai children and youth aged 18-19 years increased tenfold from 2020 to 2022, highlighting the necessity of these strict regulations.
- In response to the rise in unregulated cannabis products, Thailand's Ministry of Health implemented stringent regulations in mid-2025, restricting cannabis use to medical purposes only.
- Recreational use is deemed a criminal offense, requiring a prescription from authorized practitioners, including doctors and traditional healers, with a limited prescription duration of 30 days.
- Cannabis flowers are now classified as controlled herbs, necessitating licenses for research, sales, exports, and processing, and sales must be between licensed entities with Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) certification from Thailand’s Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM).
- Cannabis-infused products, including food, sweets, drinks, or other forms, must adhere to legal THC limits and proper labeling, with the Ministry of Public Health holding the authority to seize illegal products, impose fines, and refer offenders for criminal prosecution.
- Penalties for unauthorized or improperly labeled cannabis-infused foods include fines up to 30,000 Baht, imprisonment up to three years, or both, while items manufactured or imported without permission or containing dangerous THC levels can be classified as “impure food” with penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and fines up to 20,000 Baht.
- Unlicensed cannabis shops face prosecution, with penalties of up to one year imprisonment, 20,000 Baht fines, or both, and licensed shops breaching conditions risk suspension or revocation of their permits.
- The sale of cannabis for smoking is banned in business premises unless done under authorized medical regulations, with growers and exporters requiring official GACP certification from DTAM.
- The crackdown comes after a two-year-old girl was hospitalized from consuming a cannabis-laced gummy, prompting efforts to clear unregulated products from the market and tighten controls on unlicensed vendors.
- Concerned individuals can report substandard health products, adverse effects from consumption, or identify unregulated products via the FDA hotline 1556, any Provincial Public Health Office, or the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
