Thailand’s Prescription-Only Pivot: A Costly Backstep for Cannabis Reform

Thailand’s sudden reversal—from a hands-off cannabis free-for-all to prescription-only access—raises serious questions. Was this policy shift worth the price, especially when measured against economic growth, human rights, and public health?

🌱 Thousands of Jobs and New Businesses at Stake

Since decriminalisation in June 2022, Thailand's cannabis sector boomed:

• Over 10,000 businesses opened, including farms, dispensaries, and cafes—some estimates cite more than 6,000 dispensaries alone (The Nation, 2024).
• The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce projected the industry could reach ฿43 billion (~A$1.7 billion) by 2025 (Bangkok Post, 2023).
• The Thailand Development Research Institute estimated that legalisation generated over 8,300 direct jobs (Thai PBS, 2023).

The cannabis boom revitalised rural economies, encouraged innovation, and helped thousands of SMEs rebound from COVID-era damage.

📉 Human Rights & Public Health: Little to Show, Plenty to Lose

1. Marginal Harms vs. Alcohol

• Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health estimates 23,000 alcohol-related deaths per year, costing over 1% of GDP (WHO SEARO, 2021).
• No such burden has been documented for cannabis. Post-legalisation, adverse events were rare and largely related to unclear regulation or misuse by tourists (Reuters, 2024).

2. Criminalising the Vulnerable

• Informal patients and tourists who used cannabis legally under prior rules are now subject to arrest if caught without a medical certificate (AP News, 2024).

3. Regulatory Burden and Gatekeeping

• Access is now limited to individuals with verifiable conditions like epilepsy, insomnia, or pain—via a prescription or traditional medicine certificate (The Nation, 2025).

🔍 Australia’s Lesson: Regulate, Don’t Prohibit

Australia’s prescription-only model—though imperfect—provides access without criminalising users:

• Over 100,000 Australians legally access medical cannabis via the TGA’s Special Access Scheme (TGA Medicinal Cannabis Access Data, 2024).
• Many patients report reducing use of opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol after accessing cannabis therapeutically (Lambert Initiative, 2022).

Thailand’s move from no regulation to tight prohibition may cause more harm than it resolves—especially without a transition plan.

Australia should take note. Instead of abrupt reform or prohibition, incremental change now can lay stable foundations for broader access later. These include:

• Implementing an adult-use trial or limited access framework, such as via licensed outlets or state-based regulation.
• Introducing an amnesty for home-grow by certified patients, using a dosage-based formula similar to Canada’s ACMPR.
• Expanding education for prescribers, improving affordability and geographic equity in access.

These gradual steps can help build trust, avoid black markets, and prevent the type of sudden reversal Thailand is now facing.

🎯 Going Forward: A Smarter Balance?

Thailand’s latest cannabis law may be a cautionary tale. Legalisation works best when it:

• Ensures regulated access
• Empowers users and providers
• Avoids over-criminalising the informal sector

With more than 10,000 businesses, thousands of workers, and rising public health awareness, Thailand had the foundation for a globally respected cannabis industry. Reversing course may cost more than it saves.

Australia, by contrast, still has time to act—not through radical upheaval, but through targeted, practical reforms that put patients and public health first.