Thailand Cannabis Law for Tourists: Prescription and 30 Days
Tourists can buy cannabis flower in Thailand only with a prescription from a practitioner licensed under Thai law, for up to 30 days of use. The Health Ministry notice took effect on 26 June 2025. Shops may not sell flower online, by vending machine or at temples, dormitories and parks.
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Buying cannabis flower in Thailand now means a prescription. The Health Ministry notice behind the rule took effect on 26 June 2025. It repealed the notice of 11 November 2022.
What the 2025 notice covers
The Health Ministry notice took effect on 26 June 2025 and controls only the flower part of the cannabis plant. It sets duties for sellers and licence holders, not a separate list of rules for buyers.
- Selling controlled herb for trade needs a licence.
- A licence holder may sell to other licence holders only.
- A licence holder’s sales and exports must come from a source certified for good cultivation and harvesting standards.
- Licence holders from before 26 June 2025 follow the same conditions for flower.
The notice is dated 23 June 2025 and appeared in the Royal Gazette on 25 June 2025. The 23 June date is the signing date, not the start date.
Buying cannabis flower: prescription and 30 days
A licensed shop may sell cannabis flower to any person who holds a prescription from one of seven kinds of practitioner, for use of not more than 30 days. The sale must be for medical benefit.
Who can prescribe
Each practitioner must be licensed under the Thai law for that profession.
| Practitioner | Licensed under |
|---|---|
| Medical practitioner | The law on the medical profession |
| Thai traditional medicine practitioner | The law on the Thai traditional medicine profession |
| Applied Thai traditional medicine practitioner | The law on the Thai traditional medicine profession |
| Folk healer | The law on the Thai traditional medicine profession |
| Chinese traditional medicine practitioner | The law on the art of healing |
| Pharmacist | The law on the pharmacy profession |
| Dentist | The law on the dentistry profession |
The 30-day limit
The prescription must set the amount to use as needed for your own treatment, for use of not more than 30 days.
การสั่งจ่ายตามวรรคสอง ให้กำหนดจำนวนหรือปริมาณการใช้ตามความจำเป็นเพื่อการรักษาตัวเป็นการเฉพาะที่ใช้ได้ไม่เกินสามสิบวัน
A prescription under paragraph two must set the amount or quantity to use as needed for treating oneself, specifically for use of not more than thirty days.
Ministry of Public Health notification on controlled herbs (cannabis) B.E. 2568, clause 4, Royal Gazette 25 June 2025 (editor’s translation)
Steps for a legal purchase
- Get a prescription from one of the seven kinds of practitioner, licensed under the Thai law for that profession.
- Check that it sets the amount for your own treatment, for use of not more than 30 days.
- Buy from a licensed seller, whose flower must come from a certified source.
- Do not expect to smoke on the shop premises, where sale for smoking is banned.
Where and how shops may not sell
Shops may not sell flower for smoking on the premises, through vending machines or online, with advertising, or at temples, dormitories and parks.
| Ban | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Smoking on the premises | No sale of flower for smoking at the shop, except by a practitioner treating their own patient |
| Vending machines and online | No sale through vending machines or electronic and computer-network channels |
| Advertising | No advertising of controlled herb through any channel |
| Temples | No sale at temples or places for religious ceremonies |
| Dormitories | No sale at dormitories under the dormitory law |
| Parks | No sale at public parks, zoos and amusement parks |
Each ban except the premises-smoking rule applies to sale for trade.
Signs a shop is outside the rules
A shop that breaks one of these terms has left the notice’s limits:
- It sells flower to people without a prescription, though a licence holder sells to other licence holders only.
- It sells flower for smoking on its premises, outside the practitioner exception.
- It sells through vending machines, online or other electronic channels.
- It advertises controlled herb through any channel.
- It trades at a temple, a dormitory, a public park, a zoo or an amusement park.
Taking cannabis out of Thailand
Exporting controlled herb needs a licence, and breaking section 46 carries up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both.
What the Act covers
Nobody may export controlled herb without a licence from the licensing authority. The licensing rules cover export for trade and export not for trade.
What goes wrong
A breach of section 46 carries up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both. A section 46 licence runs to 31 December of the third year counting from the year it was issued.
Extracts and oils
Extracts from the whole cannabis plant are category 5 narcotics under the Narcotics Code, with one listed exception.
| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| Flower | A controlled herb under the Health Ministry notice |
| Extract from any part of the plant | A category 5 narcotic |
| Licensed extract with THC of not more than 0.2 percent, from cannabis or hemp grown in Thailand | Excepted from category 5 |
Not confirmed: Smoking cannabis in public: the penalty is not confirmed from the law text, so ask the local health office before you light up. A draft Cannabis Act is reported, with no enacted text found.
Common questions
Can tourists buy cannabis flower in Thailand?
Yes, from a licensed shop and only with a prescription from a practitioner licensed under Thai law. The prescription covers use of not more than 30 days.
When did the cannabis flower rule start?
The notice took effect on 26 June 2025, the day after its Royal Gazette publication on 25 June 2025.
Who can prescribe cannabis flower?
Seven kinds of practitioner: medical practitioners, Thai traditional medicine practitioners, applied Thai traditional medicine practitioners, folk healers, Chinese traditional medicine practitioners, pharmacists and dentists.
Is the whole cannabis plant controlled?
No. Only the flower part of the plant is a controlled herb under the notice.
Can a shop sell cannabis flower online or in a vending machine?
No. Sale for trade through vending machines and electronic or computer-network channels is banned.
Can a shop sell cannabis next to a temple or park?
No. Sale for trade is banned at temples and places for religious ceremonies, at dormitories, and at public parks, zoos and amusement parks.
Can you take cannabis out of Thailand?
Export of controlled herb needs a licence. Breaking that rule carries up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both.
Are cannabis oils and extracts legal?
Extracts from the whole cannabis plant are category 5 narcotics. The listing excepts a licensed extract with THC of not more than 0.2 percent, made from cannabis or hemp grown in Thailand.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (8)
FinancialAnnual8653
Weed laws in Thailand Hey guys, I’m a bit confused about the weed situation here. I was under the impression that cannabis is only legal for medical use, but walking around Bangkok it feels like there’s a weed shop every minute, plus street booths openly selling it. No one seems to be asking for any kind of medical license either. So what’s the actual deal right now? Also, if you’re staying at a hotel where you obviously can’t smoke, are you allowed to smoke on the street? Or are there designated places for it? Would appreciate if someone could clarify how this actually works in practice.
AlertReplacement5171
I’ve literally just got back from 3 weeks in Thailand (4th year in a row). It’s still so accessible yet isn’t legal unless you have a medical card. My mate got stung with a 10k baht fine at a police stop in patong Phuket for like 2g weed. Also a lot of restaurants or areas that aren’t happy for you to smoke it there. Pretty certain it’s very easy to get a medical card in Bangkok so just go pick one up. Be mindful of where you smoke it and if there’s police stops make sure you have a medical card or balls it asap.
hw9595
So I had a chat with a Aussie who owned a shop in Bangkok and he explained the entire situation to me pretty well, basically the law is you need a medical prescription if you go to some of the bigger stores - High Society, wonderland etc etc they will definitely make you get a prescription, the issue the Aussie fella was saying which is where a lot of the confusion arises is there is no data base that stores or shares your prescription so there isn't a proper way to track it he told me if people pay by card he will charge a prescription with flower purchase so he ticks the box but if you pay cash he won't charge prescription, your also only allowed 1g flower per day technically (I know this as I got told this by a doctor when I got a prescription in Nov last year) they also only last 30 days so you will need to get new script after that time period. Don't smoke in public as it's illegal still and can get a 25000 baht fine for it, find a shop that's nice and smoke in the shop will be your best bet. Check with your hotel IV booked weed friendly hotels the past few weeks I have been over some will have areas you can smoke or on the balcony as well all of these usually will have their own shop inside as well, the last hotel I was at in Chiang Mai wasn't a weed friendly hotel but they allowed it in the smoking area they had. Best bet is if you go to a shop smoke inside you will be ok, bit risky smoking in public I would avoid this as some Thai people still don't like weed, look for hostels/hotels that allow it.
Intelligent-Gap-6092
Smoking in public is a gray area. You can get fined if you cause a nuisance (smell bothering others), so streets aren’t really safe places to light up.
Flashy-Routine2007
What are the cannabis laws in Thailand? I'll be living abroad in Pattaya for a year and I'm leaving in a couple weeks. I'm very confused on the laws. Google says that it's only legal for recreational use but I've seen many posts saying that most people, even the police, don't seem to care. But then I've also heard that people have been getting arrested recently for recreational use. Which is it?
Tenured_tourist2
There are specific places where it’s okay. It’s the same places where it was okay before the laws changed. But yes, generally you will get fined for smoking on the beach.
jonez450reloaded
Check to see if there are any no-smoking on balcony rules in any condo/apartment you rent - so do, some don't. If you can't smoke on the balcony, buildings will sometimes have a smoking area as well. The main thing when smoking is just to use your discretion - smoke away from where there are people and anywhere where it is illegal, like beaches where cigarette smoking is usually banned. All that said, there are still shops with smoking lounges around and some with rooftop smoking areas, so find one with either if you're at all concerned.
ithinkitslupis
I went to my usual shop, got a telemedicine prescription for 300 baht, left with some bud. Doesn't seem that different from the old way tbh.