Cannabis shops in Thailand are set to continue their operations but will be required to restrict sales exclusively to patients possessing valid medical prescriptions.

This announcement was made by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and comes in response to the upcoming publication of new regulations governing the sale of controlled cannabis herb products.

Under the new regulations, patients will be permitted to purchase cannabis with a limit of 30 grams per month.

This shift aims to regulate the burgeoning cannabis market in Thailand, ensuring that the substance is used strictly for medicinal purposes.

The Thai government legalized medical cannabis in 2018, becoming one of the first nations in Southeast Asia to do so.

However, the recent increase in cannabis sales for recreational use has prompted authorities to re-evaluate the existing legal frameworks governing its distribution.

Prior to these changes, many cannabis retail outlets operated under less stringent regulations, leading to concerns about the unregulated sale of cannabis products to the general public.

The forthcoming regulations are intended to address these issues and align Thailand's cannabis policies with a more structured and controlled medical framework.

This development marks a significant regulatory shift, reflective of the ongoing debates within Thailand regarding cannabis use, health implications, and economic factors related to the cannabis industry.

With the new rules, authorities aim to balance patient access with necessary controls to prevent misuse.