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Associated Press

Thailand has started banning the sale of cannabis to those without a prescription, three years after becoming the first country in Asia to decriminalise the plant.
The new order, signed by Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin earlier this week, came into effect on Thursday after it was published in the Royal Gazette. It bans shops from selling cannabis to customers without a prescription and reclassifies cannabis buds as a controlled herb.
A violation could result in a maximum one-year jail term and a 20,000 baht (US$614) fine, according to the order.
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, in charge of enforcing regulations related to cannabis, held a meeting on Friday with officials across the country to prepare them for the change.

The move to decriminalise in 2022 had boosted Thailand’s tourism and farming industries, and spawned thousands of shops.
But the country has faced public backlash over allegations that a lack of regulation made the drug available to children and caused addiction.
Treechada Srithada, spokesperson for the Health Ministry, said in a statement on Thursday that cannabis use in Thailand would become “fully for medical purposes”.
She said shops that violate the order will be closed and the ministry will also tighten requirements for approval of a new licence in the future. She said there are currently 18,000 shops that hold a licence to sell cannabis.
The ruling Pheu Thai Party previously promised to criminalise the drug again, but faced strong resistance from its former partner in the coalition government, the Bhumjaithai Party, which supported decriminalisation.
Bhumjaithai quit the coalition last week over a leaked phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

The move to restrict cannabis sales came after officials last month revealed that cannabis smuggling cases involving tourists had soared in recent months. Somsak told reporters on Tuesday he would like to relist cannabis as a narcotic in the future.
Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board said a study conducted by the agency last year found the number of people addicted to cannabis had spiked significantly after it was decriminalised.
A group of cannabis advocates said on Wednesday that the change in regulations was politically motivated and that they will rally at the health ministry next month to oppose the change and any attempt to make it a criminal offence again to consume or sell cannabis.


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Thailand starts banning cannabis sales without prescriptions

A member of staff arranges bongs at a cannabis shop in Bangkok. Violations of the ban could result in a maximum one-year jail term and a 20,000 baht fine. Photo: AP

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A cannabis shop is seen closed in the popular tourist area of Khaosan Road in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: EPA

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More than 18,000 licensed shops now face closure if they fail to comply with the new, stricter medical-only requirements


More than 18,000 licensed shops now face closure if they fail to comply with the new, stricter medical-only requirements.


Thailand starts banning cannabis sales without prescriptions

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}More than 18,000 licensed shops now face closure if they fail to comply with the new, stricter medical-only requirements

More than 18,000 licensed shops now face closure if they fail to comply with the new, stricter medical-only requirements