The era of 'free cannabis' in Thailand is over.

A staff member prepares cannabis at a shop on Khaosan Road, one of Thailand's popular tourist destinations, in 2022. Photo: Reuters.

Three years after the legalization of cannabis, the industry once expected to bring billions of dollars to Thailand is in a precarious state. New regulations issued by the government have reversed a previously liberal policy, forcing many cannabis shops to close and plunging the market into uncertainty.

Along Khao San Road, Bangkok's most famous tourist street, cannabis shops used to be densely packed. From cannabis flowers to cannabis-infused food and drinks, everything was sold everywhere, accompanied by advertisements promising relaxation or euphoria. As we enter 2026, that picture is rapidly changing.

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has begun implementing a comprehensive conversion roadmap, giving cannabis shops three years to convert into clinics if they wish to continue operating, according to the Bangkok Post . This move is seen as a sign of the end of a four-year period of policy upheaval and inconsistency following the partial legalization of cannabis.

According to Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat, cannabis clinics will be regulated under the Health Facilities Act. The change aims to ensure that people have access to cannabis for therapeutic purposes under the supervision of licensed personnel such as doctors, traditional Thai medicine practitioners, and those who have completed specialized training programs.

Tourists walk past Mary Jane's cannabis shop in Bangkok on May 23. Photo: Chanakarn Laosarakham .

Thailand currently has approximately 11,000 registered cannabis shops, with licenses set to expire within the next three years. Around 40% of these licenses expire each year. Health officials estimate that after a screening process, only about 2,000 establishments will qualify to operate as clinics.

The Ministry of Public Health stated that it is not yet possible to determine exactly how many shops will successfully convert, but affirmed that Thailand has entered a phase where cannabis is only permitted for medical purposes. The agency also expressed its willingness to cooperate with the private sector to develop the cannabis industry, noting the significant demand for high-quality raw cannabis suitable for extraction and processing.

Thailand was the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis in 2022, but it has faced many challenges in controlling and managing it. The lack of a clear legal framework has led to the spontaneous growth of a "cannabis economy," with shops springing up across the country. Recreational use, particularly in tourist areas, has resulted in numerous complaints from the public.

It is expected that Anutin and the Bhumjaithai party will push for the completion of the legal framework when the new government officially takes office in the near future.