Is Weed Legal in Thailand?

Thailand reversed its landmark 2022 decriminalization. On 25 June 2025, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin signed a Notification on Controlled Herbs under the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Knowledge Act B.E. 2542 (1999), restricting cannabis flower to medical use only. Cannabis was not returned to the Category 5 narcotics list outright — instead, the flowering buds are now regulated as a controlled herb, which carries lighter penalties than narcotics offenses but still criminalizes recreational sale and possession.

To purchase cannabis legally, a buyer must present a Thai ID or passport at a licensed clinic, obtain a PT 33 prescription from a certified practitioner (valid up to 30 days), and buy only from a licensed dispensary with on-site medical supervision. New January 2026 rules require every dispensary to have a registered medical or traditional medicine practitioner present. Of the 18,433 dispensaries operating at the 2024 peak, approximately 7,297 had shut down by February 2026 after failing to meet the renewal standards, leaving roughly 11,136 still licensed.

Public consumption, purchase without a prescription, and supply by unlicensed vendors are punishable by fines up to 25,000 THB and imprisonment up to 3 months. Two further ministerial regulations took effect in April 2026 tightening licensing, sales, processing, and export rules.