Thailand Haze of confusion as cannabis sales made illegal again

Along Bangkok's famous backpacker strip, Khao San Road, storefronts offer a smorgasbord of highs - cannabis strains promising relaxation, mood enhancement and giggly vibes.

- Rebecca Ratcliffe

Since Thailand legalised cannabis three years ago, thousands of such stores have opened, their doorways often topped with bright neon marijuana-leaf signs.

But new laws imposed in June that re-criminalised cannabis for recreational use have plunged Thailand's $1bn (£750m) cannabis industry into confusion, with shops scrambling to comply with the requirements, and many fearing they will be forced to close.

The new rules say any retail cannabis purchase needs a prescription from a medical professional. The details of how the rules will work, and the guidelines for issuing prescriptions, are still being finalised. Recent reports suggest shops may have to register with the government as clinics.

For entrepreneur Natthakan Punyathanaworakit, the announcement was the final straw. She closed one of her three cannabis shops in Bangkok after the change was announced, saying business had already been tough.