The Public Health Ministry has suspended sales of a stress-relief drug after it was used in sex crimes.
Two ministerial decrees are being issued which will make Alprazolam a banned psychotropic substance. Alprazolam is the generic version of Xanax.
They ban the manufacture, sale, import, export and possession of the drug, and will take effect on June 17, the Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Boonchai Somboonsuk said.
Dr Boonchai said sex crimes related to the drug have escalated. Some victims had died from taking the drug.
Some addicts take Alprazolam with cough syrup and a krathom-based cocktail known as "4x100", Dr Boonchai said.
Under the decrees, drug stores will be prohibited from selling the drug and required to return all stockpiles to dealers or manufacturers.
Only state hospitals and medical schools are exempt.
Other medical units and private clinics must seek approval before they can possess the drug.