BANGKOK: Thailand is stepping up enforcement against cannabis outlets that violate regulations, with repeat offenders facing possible licence revocation as the government moves to restrict cannabis use strictly to medical purposes.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said operators whose licences had previously been suspended could face immediate revocation if they committed the same offence again, subject to legal procedures.
Ploythalay said Thailand currently has 12,279 licensed cannabis outlets nationwide, with Bangkok accounting for the highest number at 1,726, followed by Phuket (1,046), Chon Buri (900), Surat Thani (717) and Chiang Mai (482).
"Proactive inspections had uncovered various violations, including selling cannabis without prescriptions, allowing smoking on business premises, offering sales promotions or commercial advertising, and selling cannabis through online platforms, as well as failure to submit legally required reports,” she told reporters at Government House on Friday.
Ploythalay said 66 appeals against licence suspension or revocation orders were submitted in 2026.
These included 31 from Bangkok, 15 from Phuket, seven from Si Sa Ket, six from Surat Thani, two from Chon Buri and five from other provinces.
She said the government would continue conducting inspections and enforcing regulations to ensure operators strictly complied with licensing conditions, stressing that cannabis use must be confined to medical purposes to protect public health, particularly that of children and young people.
"The government does not support recreational cannabis use,” she said, adding that the Subcommittee on Appeals Consideration and Rulings would thoroughly examine the facts and relevant legal provisions before submitting cases to the Committee for the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom for further consideration.
Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, but concerns over recreational use and the rapid expansion of cannabis businesses have prompted the government to tighten controls.
On Sept 22, 2026, the Cabinet approved a draft Cannabis and Hemp Act aimed at restricting cannabis use to medical purposes and phasing out the recreational market.- Bernama
