Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said the ministry is ready to enforce the government’s policy permitting cannabis use solely for medical purposes.
Regulations will require cannabis shops to transition into medical clinics under the Medical Facilities Act, which governs how clinics operate, he said.
The move aims to ensure access to cannabis for medical treatment under the supervision of authorised personnel, including doctors, Thai traditional medicine practitioners and certified staff who have completed relevant training courses, reports the Bangkok Post.
There are about 11,000 registered cannabis shops nationwide, with their permits set to expire over the next three years, he said, adding that around 40% of permits expire each year.
This is expected to gradually phase out existing cannabis dispensaries unless they adapt their operations to function as medical clinics, Mr Pattana said.
“We cannot say exactly how many will convert into clinics, but we can say that we have entered the full phase of cannabis being used for medicinal purposes only,” he said in a statement shared with the media.
Mr Pattana added that the ministry is willing to work with private companies on the development of the cannabis industry.
He noted there is strong demand for premium unprocessed cannabis, or raw cannabis flowers, which can be used for further extraction or processing.