Thailand
Is Hemp Legal in Thailand?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 28, 2026
The short answer
Thai law defines hemp as cannabis plants with THC content not exceeding 1.0% by dry weight in the leaves and flowering tops, distinguishing it from higher-THC cannabis. Cultivation, processing, and sale of hemp require licenses issued by the Thailand FDA under the 2020 Hemp Ministerial Regulation. Licensed uses include fiber, seed, food, cosmetics, traditional medicine, and research.
Hemp seed and seed oil are legal food ingredients with FDA registration. The 2025 cannabis recriminalization did not roll back hemp licensing but tightened oversight: hemp extracts above 0.2% THC are Category 5 narcotics, and any flowering bud — whether from hemp or cannabis genetics — falls under the controlled-herb regime requiring a prescription for human consumption.
Key facts ·
Thailand
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
1.0% THC by dry weight (plant); 0.2% THC by weight (extracts and finished products)
Regulator
Thailand Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Public Health
Key regulation
Ministerial Regulation on Hemp B.E. 2563 (2020); Ministerial Regulation on Category 5 Narcotics B.E. 2569 (2026)
Effective
January 29, 2021
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import and export of hemp seed, fiber, and finished hemp products under 0.2% THC require Thai FDA permits and standard customs clearance. Hemp extracts and flowering material are regulated under the April 2026 Ministerial Regulation on Category 5 Narcotics (Cannabis/Hemp Extracts) and require a license from the FDA and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board for any commercial movement across the border.
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