Thailand's cannabis rules for visitors (2026)
What the law allows, what it does not, and why.
As of 2026, cannabis is legal in Thailand only within a medical framework. Cannabis flower is a controlled herb, sold only by licensed dispensaries and only to customers aged 20 or older who hold a prescription on form PT33 issued by a licensed Thai practitioner. Every purchase happens in person, because Thai law prohibits online sales and delivery. Smoking cannabis in public places carries penalties, and taking cannabis across international borders is a serious offense.
Where things stand in 2026
Thailand's cannabis rules changed in 2025, and they are enforced. Cannabis flower is now classified as a controlled herb under the Ministry of Public Health's controlled-herb regulations, and since 2025 it may only be dispensed to holders of a prescription on form PT33 from a licensed Thai practitioner.
One thing did not change, and it is the point visitors most often get wrong: cannabis was not put back on the narcotics list. Thailand tightened the rules in June 2025 without returning the plant to that schedule, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board restated this publicly in July 2026. Cannabis flower is a controlled herb, which is a separate legal category with its own rules, and that is the category everything below describes.
The rules tightened again in 2026. A ministerial regulation on permits to research, export, sell, or process controlled herbs for commercial purposes (No. 2), B.E. 2569, has been in force since 30 April 2026. It narrows who may hold a licence to sell cannabis flower: the applicant must already hold a qualifying licence or credential, such as a healthcare facility licence, a licence to manufacture or sell medicines or herbal products, or certification as a folk healer. Licences issued under the older rules stay valid until they expire, and renewals are judged against the new standard. That regulation governs who may be licensed to sell, and where. What it asks of you as a buyer is unchanged: a PT33 prescription, age 20 or over, and an in-person purchase.
For a visitor, the practical picture is simple. Buying cannabis is legal when you follow the medical route: a consultation, a PT33 prescription, and an in-person purchase at a licensed dispensary, age 20 and over. Outside that route there is no legal way to buy cannabis flower in Thailand, and recreational sale is not permitted.
The rules at a glance
Age 20 and over
Sales to anyone under 20, to pregnant women, or to breastfeeding women are prohibited. Your passport is your ID.
PT33 prescription required
Since 2025, cannabis flower is dispensed only against a prescription on form PT33 from a licensed Thai practitioner.
In person only
No webshops, no delivery, no vending machines. Every legal purchase happens at a licensed counter.
Use in private, keep it in Thailand
Smoking in public places carries penalties, and cannabis must never cross a border with you.
Your questions, answered
Is cannabis legal in Thailand in 2026?
Can tourists buy cannabis legally?
Do I need a prescription, and how do I get one?
What is the age limit?
Can I order cannabis online or have it delivered?
Where am I allowed to smoke or consume?
Does my prescription cover vape cartridges?
Can I take cannabis out of Thailand?
Who do these rules actually bind, me or the shop?
Where can I buy legally in Bangkok?
Official sources
The rules described in this guide are based on these primary references:
Practices and prohibitions under the Controlled Herb (Cannabis) Announcement B.E. 2568 (2025), official guidance published by Thailand's Government Public Relations Department (in Thai). The announcement was published in the Royal Gazette on 25 June 2025 and has been in force since 26 June 2025.
Practice guidance under the Ministerial Regulation (No. 2), B.E. 2569, issued by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine on 12 May 2026 (in Thai). The regulation has been in force since 30 April 2026 and sets which premises may be licensed to sell cannabis flower.
Division of Medical Cannabis, Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, the regulator's official portal for current rules, licensing, and announcements (in Thai).
Laws change faster than websites. Treat this guide as orientation, and confirm the current rules with a licensed practitioner or official Thai sources before you rely on them.
This guide presents general education about Thailand's cannabis rules for visitors. It is not legal or medical advice, it does not advertise or offer cannabis flower for sale, and no products can be viewed or purchased through this site. Consult a doctor or licensed practitioner before using any cannabis product. Thai cannabis regulations change frequently; rules stated here reflect our understanding as of August 2026.