Thailand, which pioneered marijuana decriminalization in Southeast Asia in 2022, has recently reintroduced strict regulations requiring medical prescriptions for cannabis sales. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin's directive reclassifies cannabis as a narcotic, enacting measures that mandate shops selling marijuana to function as medical dispensaries. These changes follow a political shift that granted the ruling party more flexibility to enforce stricter cannabis laws amidst rising concerns about dependency and underage use. Despite initially thriving with over 18,000 cannabis shops, public opinion has turned due to the lack of oversight in the sector.
"Cannabis will be classified as a narcotic in the future," Thepsuthin said of the measure, which has since come into effect, in a statement cited in local outlets.
The Thai government has cited high rates of dependence and concerns over the risk of children using the drug.
Following legalization, Thai entrepreneurs established some 18,000 cannabis shops across the country.
The brief but burgeoning era of decriminalization was marred by divided public opinion and criticism that cannabis shops faced few regulations and little oversight.
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