Dentists face legal action for pre-signing cannabis prescriptions
Thailand warns dentists that signing cannabis prescription forms without examining or diagnosing patients could breach four laws and professional ethics.
The government has warned dentists not to sign cannabis prescription forms in advance without examining, diagnosing or providing treatment to individual patients, saying the practice could breach four major laws and professional ethical standards.
Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan, deputy government spokesperson, said the government was continuing to strengthen controls and monitoring of cannabis use under the Ministry of Public Health notification on controlled herbs, covering cannabis, issued in 2025.
Dentists must exercise particular caution when prescribing cannabis as a controlled herb using Form Phor Thor 33, she said.
They must not pre-sign the forms without first examining and diagnosing the patient or providing a relevant healthcare service. Dental practitioners found to have signed prescriptions in advance would face strict legal action.
Practice could breach four laws
Ploythalay said issuing a cannabis prescription without examining or diagnosing the patient would constitute dental practice below professional standards and could violate professional ethics.
The conduct could also fall under four pieces of legislation:
- Protection and Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine Wisdom Act, B.E. 2542 (1999): Governs cannabis flower, which is classified as a controlled herb.
- Narcotics Code, B.E. 2564 (2021): Governs cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which are classified as Category 5 narcotics.
- Dental Profession Act, B.E. 2537 (1994): Governs dentists’ professional ethics and licences to practise dentistry.
- Health Facility Act, B.E. 2541 (1998): Establishes requirements that must also be followed, particularly under Section 34.
“Issuing a controlled-herb prescription for cannabis using Form Phor Thor 33 without examining, diagnosing or providing a service to the patient on an individual basis may violate Clause 17 of the Dental Council’s regulations on professional ethics,” Ploythalay said.
Under the provision, dental practitioners must not intentionally issue false certificates or provide dishonest opinions on matters relating to their profession.
