At 10 a.m. on a sticky Bangkok morning, the lights flicker on at Siam Green. The scent inside the lounge is a mix of citrusy buds and antiseptic alcohol—two worlds colliding in Thailand’s new medical-only era. A doctor in a crisp white coat sits at a small desk, prescription pad at the ready. Just a year ago, this corner displayed glass bongs and rolling trays. Now, a blood pressure cuff and thermometer dominate the space.
Before opening the doors, the staff gather for a quick huddle. They run through Standard Operating Procedures like a well-drilled team. ID checks, prescription verification, consultation flow—all must run smoothly.
Budtenders, once the freewheeling guides of Thailand’s green rush, are now guardians of paperwork. “Fear at the moment is quite high,” says co-founder Gaurav Sehgal, recalling the shock that rippled through the industry after June 23, 2025, when Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health officially reclassified cannabis flowers as a controlled herb (prescription only) via a Royal Gazette announcement.
The irony is clear. While doctors must technically oversee sales, many have little practical knowledge of cannabis. This morning, a young budtender named Gib patiently explains terpenes to the in-house physician. “Indica and Sativa aren’t a true indication of sleepy or energetic effects,” she tells him. Sehgal chuckles: “Our budtenders are training the doctors.” The shift feels surreal, but necessary. Compliance has become the difference between survival and closure.
Banana Kush and Paper Souvenirs
By midday, the lounge has softened into a café-like rhythm. Soft hip-hop hums under the air conditioning as the first wave of tourists trickles in. Two backpackers from Europe approach the counter, excited by names like Laughing Buddha and Grape Stank. Their smiles falter when a clipboard slides across the counter. “You’ll need a prescription first,” the budtender explains. Their faces fall. “What? For weed?” They exchange nervous glances and decline, muttering they’ll “check out the shop down the street.”
Scenes like this play out daily. On tourist islands like Koh Samui, many dispensaries still sell without asking questions. In Bangkok and in Koh Samui, however, Siam Green insists on full compliance, even if it costs sales. “We lose a lot of walk-ins,” Sehgal admits. “But at least we’re building trust.”
Not everyone minds. Around 2 p.m., a regular named Preecha arrives. A former Muay Thai boxer, he greets the staff by name before sitting across from the doctor. “Back pain again,” he says with a grin. The consultation lasts two minutes. Chronic pain box ticked, prescription signed. Preecha strolls to the display jars and points to a quarter-ounce of Banana Kush. “Same as last month.” The budtender teases him: “At least now you get a paper souvenir, krub!” waving his slip. Preecha chuckles, unfazed by the added step. For loyal locals, trust outweighs hassle.
Prescription Only After Dark
As the sun dips low, the vibe inside Siam Green shifts. At 6 p.m. sharp, a staffer flips the chalkboard outside — Prescription Only After 6:00 PM. The message is clear: without a prior consult, there are no sales tonight. The hip-hop fades into background ambience, the lighting warms, and the lounge takes on the feel of a quiet clinic crossed with a cozy café.
A pair of American tourists wanders in around 7 p.m., unaware of the rule. They admire the frosty jars on display before a budtender gently asks, “Do you have a prescription with us?” Their confusion is instant. “Like a medical card? We’re just visiting.” He points to the chalkboard. The Americans groan and leave in frustration. “We bought weed on Khao San Road last week, no problem!” one exclaims as they push through the door.
Inside, the remaining patrons settle in. A couple of young professionals share a volcano vaporizer and a joint rolled in Siam Green’s custom rolling papers, the logo faintly visible on the white sheet. A group of backpackers sip CBD tea, chatting in hushed tones. Staff in soft green scrubs float through the lounge, part clinic staff, part hosts. The atmosphere is intimate, measured, and quietly defiant in its compliance.
The High Price of Staying Legit
The first 72 hours after June 23 were chaos. Sehgal sprinted across Bangkok looking for doctors willing to work. Salaries almost doubled overnight as dispensaries scrambled. Siam Green moved fast, hiring physicians for all five locations. They also pulled every unapproved edible from shelves, sacrificing nearly 30% of revenue. “We got squeezed from both sides. Lower revenue, higher cost,” Sehgal admits. But it was the price of survival.
Industry-wide, compliance has been inconsistent. Many shops still serve tourists under the table, gambling that health inspectors won’t show up. A few have been raided, but not enough to deter the majority. “Most people are just selling whatever they want,” Sehgal says. Still, he believes strict compliance is the only sustainable strategy. With thousands of licenses expiring at year’s end, only certified clinics may be renewed. Siam Green is already re-registering under the Traditional Medicine Act, even designing smoke rooms to meet clinical standards. Meanwhile, Thailand’s public health minister has signaled that cannabis could be returned to the narcotics list before the end of the year—a warning covered by the Thai Examiner.
Beyond paperwork, branding has been key to keeping customers loyal. Climate-controlled storage, potted greenery, and carefully sourced flower reinforce the store’s identity. Merch like branded T-shirts and custom rolling papers give patrons something tangible to take home. For many regulars, these touches carry as much weight as the product itself. “People want to feel they’re part of something real,” Sehgal says. In a market clouded by uncertainty, authenticity is Siam Green’s lifeline.
Still Standing in the Bangkok Night
By 3 AM, the store winds down. Prescriptions are filed into thick binders, each page a safeguard against inspection. The staff wipe counters, stack menus, and dim the lights. Outside, the chalkboard still reads Prescription Only, glowing faintly under the streetlamp. Inside, the last ember fades in an ashtray, leaving only the scent of citrus and clove.
Sehgal watches from the doorway as Bangkok’s traffic hums outside. “This doesn’t make sense…but we have to do it,” he says with a shrug. Yet his expression is calm, almost resolute. The wild gold-rush days may be gone, but Siam Green is still here—steadfast, compliant, and shaping what the next chapter will look like. In the quiet of the night, the lounge feels less like a dispensary and more like a promise: that playing by the rules, however absurd, might be the only way to endure.
Photos courtesy of Siam Green
This article is from an external, unpaid contributor. It does not represent High Times’ reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
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