A new cannabis control bill is expected to force more than 50 per cent of cannabis shops around Khao San Road out of business, according to Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association.

The restriction requires dispensaries to employ medical personnel to prescribe the drug at stores, costing operators an additional 30,000 to 50,000 baht per month.

Endorsed by the cabinet this week, the bill restricts cannabis use to medical purposes in an effort to close regulatory gaps following Thailand’s decriminalisation in 2022.

Hiring qualified medical practitioners presents a cost hurdle and a staffing deficit. Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Road Business Association, questioned whether the country has enough qualified personnel to staff dozens of small tourist-facing dispensaries. Retailers unable to absorb the salary burden must pivot to other commercial trades or exit the street entirely.

Local hospitality operators already face a soft market. Average hotel occupancy in the district slipped to 50 per cent during the third quarter. Forward accommodation bookings for the approaching peak season trail historical projections. That leaves landlords and shop owners with diminished footfall.

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt transit routes run by Gulf carriers. Those airlines supply the bulk of European long-haul backpackers heading to central Bangkok. Direct flight alternatives from other carriers carry steep ticket prices because of elevated jet fuel costs and limited seat capacity across Asian corridors.

High airfares hit budget travellers hardest. Hostels and mid-tier accommodations dominate Khao San Road. Local businesses are directly exposed when visitors curtail trip spending or cancel itineraries altogether.

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