Govt flags dentists pre-signing cannabis prescription forms, 4 laws broken

The government of Thailand has cautioned dentists against pre-signing cannabis prescription forms prior to conducting a patient examination. This warning, issued on August 17, contravenes a total of four distinct laws simultaneously. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan announced this directive during a press briefing.

The form in question, known as Por.Tor.33, is the standard prescription for controlled cannabis herb. According to Ploythalay, dentists must not sign this form before assessing or diagnosing a patient. Should they do so, they risk facing severe legal consequences. Pre-signing renders the form void of any specific individual and can be distributed irrespective of the patient's actual condition, the spokesperson emphasized.

She further pointed out that this practice is unsanctioned and violates professional dental ethics. Moreover, the action infringes upon four laws that were not tailored for dentistry but apply broadly due to cannabis's classification within them. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan | Photo via Royal Thai Government The first statute is the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Act 1999, governing cannabis flower as a controlled substance.

The second is the Narcotics Code 2021, which regulates cannabis extracts containing more than 0.2% THC and categorizes them as Category 5 narcotics. The third law is the Dental Professions Act 1994, addressing professional ethics and dental licenses. The fourth pertains to the Healthcare Facilities Act 1998, particularly Section 34, which stipulates that issuing a controlled herb prescription form without a prior examination, diagnosis, or treatment constitutes a breach of Dental Council regulations on professional ethics.

Ploythalay stated, “Under Article 17, dental professionals must not intentionally issue a false certificate, or give a dishonest opinion on any matter connected to their profession.” The warning does not single out any specific dentist or clinic, nor has any case been reported thus far. This advisory coincides with the government's broader tightening of cannabis regulations, recently restricting the plant to medical purposes only and halting the sale of recreational cannabis products.