Thailand has imposed a ban on cannabis sales without a medical prescription, marking a major reversal after the country decriminalized the plant in 2022, triggering uncertainty among sellers and growers across the industry. Taking effect on Thursday, the new ban marks an end to Thailand's bold attempt to be the first Asian country to embrace cannabis. The drastic policy change has left little time for local cannabis businesses to transition. Thunnithi Patharapatpong, who owns a cannabis dispensary in Thailand, reflected on his predicament while speaking to a reporter. The neon glow of marijuana was still flickering, but his dispensary might soon have to shut down due to the new law. The dizzying policy pivot is aimed at choking off the entire recreational market of cannabis. Only those with prescriptions are allowed to buy cannabis products according to the new rulings, addressing the government's concern over the negative impacts of the plant on public health. But the move is also abandoning an estimated one billion U.S. dollars industry. That has a major impact on local growers, many of whom live in rural areas and rely on the plant as their economic lifeline. Many of them made heavy investments into their farms, all under a policy that was legal. Shotlist: Bangkok, Thailand - Recent: 1. Various Thunnithi Patharapatpong, cannabis shop owner, entering his shop, working in shop; 2. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Thunnithi Patharapatpong, cannabis shop owner (partially overlaid with shot 3): "To be honest, I was shocked, really shocked. My heart sank. I was like, 'Is it time already?' That was so fast. On the first day the news came out, we did not know what was happening. So, we had to start preparing, packing things up just in case they suddenly did not allow us to open."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 3. Various of Patharapatpong at work in his cannabis shop; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Various of Patharapatpong at work in his cannabis shop; 5. Various of facade of cannabis shops by street; interior of cannabis shops; cannabis products, paraphernalia for smoking; people smoking cannabis; 6. SOUNDBITE (Thai) Paisan Limstit, Committee Member Health Law, Ethics Center, Faculty of Law, Thammasat University: "If we compare it in terms of negative impacts on society, it is more harmful. The increased budget is required for the treatment and rehabilitation of psychiatric patients. Usage among children and youth has increased by up to ten times. So, it is clear that the negative consequences outweigh the benefits."; 7. Various of Ravin Seesod, cannabis grower, taking care of cannabis plants; 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravin Seesod, cannabis grower (starting with shot 7/partially overlaid with shot 9): "It's annoying me a lot about the law because I don't know what to do next. Even tomorrow when I wake up, I don't know what to do. If there is another law, so, what are we going to do as a grower and a small business owner? We have no choice, except that we have to stop this business."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 9. Various of Seesod taking care of cannabis plants; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Various of cannabis planted by Seesod. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]