Cannabis shopkeepers are fearing ruin as the Thai government mulls re-listing the drug as a narcotic.

Vendors urged officials to 'find another solution' as Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin vowed to ban recreational marijuana in the country 'within 45 days'.

Somsak made the declaration after signing on Monday a new regulation restricting cannabis use strictly for medical purposes. Buyers will need a doctor's prescription and a medical certificate to purchase cannabis.

Dispensary owners lamented the policy U-turn and asked indecisive government chiefs to reconsider.

Rojakorn Wongweeraphan, 30, owner of the Terp Buddeez cannabis shop in Chiang Mai, said: 'I've been running my shop for two years now, ever since cannabis was legalised. If the government reverses the decision and puts it back on the narcotics list, I'll be the one who suffers since I'm both a seller and a user.

'I don't know what I would do since I've invested a lot into this business. My suppliers will also lose their income. I hope the government can find a solution so that we don't have to lose our jobs.'

Phajorn Samphaongern, owner of the Marijuana MO shop, said most of his customers were locals with full-time jobs and cancer patients who use the drug as part of their medical treatment.

He said: 'We don't sell to children or teenagers. We only sell to specific groups. If cannabis is going to be classified as a drug again, I hope the government can come up with measures to allow legally registered shops like ours to continue operating as usual.'

The stricter cannabis measures were signed just days after the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from Thailand's ruling coalition. The party, led by former Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, had made cannabis legalisation its flagship campaign policy for the 2019 general election.

Thailand decriminalised marijuana in 2022, making it among the first Asian nations to do so.

However, the lack of regulations caused a surge in unregulated sales and use, especially in tourist areas like Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya.

Government officials are now seeking to outlaw recreational cannabis use by requiring medical certificates to purchase the drug.