Is Weed Legal in Thailand for Tourists? Prescription Only
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. Shops may not sell flower online, from vending machines, or at temples, dormitories and parks.
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Can you buy cannabis? Only with a prescription: plan on getting one first, because a licensed shop may sell it only to a person who holds one. The rule comes from a Health Ministry notice that took effect on 26 June 2025.
How to buy it legally
Start with a practitioner, since the prescription is what makes the sale lawful. Seven kinds of practitioner can write one: doctors, Thai traditional medicine practitioners, applied Thai traditional medicine practitioners, folk healers, Chinese traditional medicine practitioners, pharmacists and dentists. Each must be licensed under Thai law for that profession, and the sale must be for medical benefit.
Check the amount on the prescription before you go to the shop. It must be set 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)
Then buy from a licensed seller, whose flower must come from a certified source. Only the flower part of the plant is covered by this notice.
Where shops may not sell
Shops may not sell flower to be smoked on their premises, except a practitioner treating their own patient.
- Vending machines and online or other electronic channels are banned for sale for trade.
- Advertising controlled herb for trade is banned through any channel.
- Sale for trade is banned at temples and places for religious ceremonies.
- Sale for trade is banned at dormitories under the dormitory law.
- Sale for trade is banned at public parks, zoos and amusement parks.
A shop that sells flower without asking for a prescription is outside the rules, since a licence holder may sell to other licence holders only. Walk away from it.
Taking it home
Leave it in Thailand. Nobody may export controlled herb without a licence from the licensing authority. Breaking that rule carries up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to THB 20,000, or both.
Oils and extracts
Extracts follow a stricter rule than flower. Extracts from all parts of the cannabis plant are category 5 narcotics. The one listed exception is a licensed extract with THC of not more than 0.2 percent, made from cannabis or hemp grown in Thailand.
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.
Who can write the prescription?
Doctors, Thai traditional medicine practitioners, folk healers, Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacists and dentists can, each licensed under Thai law.
Can I order cannabis online or buy it from 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.
Read next
Sources and reader comments
Official legal texts (Gazette, government portals):
- Royal Gazette vol. 142 special part 229 Ng, 25 Jun 2025, pp. 8-9: Notification of the Ministry of Public Health on controlled herbs (cannabis) B.E. 2568 (copy hosted by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (opens in a new tab)
- Royal Gazette: Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicinal Intelligence Act B.E. 2542 (1999), sections 45, 46 and 78 (Council of State copy hosted by DTAM; read as page images) (opens in a new tab)
- Royal Gazette vol. 139 special part 35 Ng, 9 Feb 2022, p. 8: Notification of the Ministry of Public Health naming narcotics in category 5 B.E. 2565 (read via Web Archive copy) (opens in a new tab)
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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.
3 replies
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?
2 replies
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.
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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.