- Since 26 June 2025, the Ministry of Public Health has restricted cannabis to medical use, with access only on a prescription for up to 30 days' supply.
- The UK government says recreational use remains illegal and that you must not buy, possess or use cannabis without a Thai-issued medical prescription.
- Taking cannabis out of Thailand without export permission is illegal, with fines starting at 30,000 baht per kilogram, according to the UK government.
- A new Cannabis and Hemp Control Act was still being drafted in mid-2026 and was not expected in parliament before January 2027.
- Rules have changed repeatedly; check the current position with official sources before acting.
The current position
Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, and shops selling it opened across the country. In June 2025 the Ministry of Public Health changed course. According to the Thai government's Public Relations Department and the Royal Thai Embassy in Copenhagen, measures in force since 26 June 2025 restrict cannabis to medical use only. Access requires an authorised prescription, limited to a 30-day supply, through a licensed practitioner for individual treatment.
The same sources say sales are limited to doctors and licensed medical professionals, online and vending-machine sales are banned, all cannabis advertising is prohibited, and sales are banned in places including temples, dormitories, public parks and zoos.
The UK government's travel advice, read in October 2026, says cannabis use in Thailand is restricted to medical purposes, that you must not buy, possess or use it without a Thai-issued medical prescription limited to a 30-day supply, and that recreational use remains illegal.
Who can prescribe medical cannabis
Prescriptions are written on Form PT 33, published by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. The English version lists the licensed professions that may sign it: medical doctors, Thai traditional medicine and applied Thai traditional medicine practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and folk healers.
The form states that a prescription must not exceed 30 days per issue, that the diagnosis must match the treatment guidelines and approved indications for the prescriber's profession, and that it must be consistent with other medical documents supporting the patient's use. The seller must keep the prescription for one year. The form records the patient's nationality and passport number, and the condition being treated.
Sources describe the sales rules slightly differently: the government summary refers to doctors and licensed medical professionals, while the PT 33 form lists a wider range of prescribers. If you are considering medical cannabis, discuss it with a licensed doctor and ask how the prescription will be issued and dispensed.
Travellers: bringing cannabis in or taking it out
Do not take cannabis out of Thailand. The UK government says it is illegal to do so without export permission from the authorities, with fines starting at 30,000 baht per kilogram, and that unpaid fines can lead to detention or imprisonment and an immigration watchlist entry.
Do not bring cannabis into Thailand either, even if it is prescribed at home. The Thai FDA's traveller guidance stated that importing medicinal products made from cannabis or hemp was prohibited and that rules for travellers had not been introduced. It also lists dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, as a prohibited Category 1 psychotropic. We found no newer official rule allowing travellers to import cannabis medicines; confirm with the Thai FDA or a Thai embassy before travelling with any cannabis-based product.
The UK government also notes that Thailand has strict laws on drug use, possession and trafficking, and that conditions in Thai prisons are harsh.
A new law is being drafted
Cannabis is currently regulated by Ministry of Public Health announcements rather than a dedicated act. Thairath reported on 16 July 2026 that the Ministry's draft Cannabis and Hemp Control Act was in public consultation and expected to reach the legislature by January 2027 at the earliest, and that the House Public Health Committee was preparing a complementary bill.
Until a new law passes, the medical-only rules described above apply. Because policy has changed several times since 2022, check the latest position with the Ministry of Public Health, a Thai embassy or your own government's travel advice before relying on any guide, including this one.
Medical cannabis and your health
Medical cannabis is prescribed for specific conditions under Thai treatment guidelines. If you have a condition you think it might help, speak to a doctor about the evidence, the risks and how it would interact with your other medicines. Tell any doctor treating you in Thailand if you have used cannabis.
Staying within the rules
- Do not buy, possess or use cannabis without a Thai-issued medical prescription.
- Expect any prescription to cover no more than 30 days.
- Never pack cannabis or cannabis products when leaving Thailand.
- Do not bring cannabis medicines into Thailand without written confirmation from the Thai FDA.
- Check the latest official position before each trip; a new law is being drafted.
Frequently asked questions
Is cannabis legal in Thailand in 2026?
Only for medical use. Since 26 June 2025, access requires a prescription limited to 30 days' supply, and the UK government says recreational use remains illegal.
Can tourists get a cannabis prescription?
Form PT 33 records the patient's nationality and passport number, but a prescription depends on a licensed practitioner diagnosing a condition that meets Thai treatment guidelines.
Can I take cannabis home from Thailand?
No. The UK government says taking cannabis out of Thailand without export permission is illegal, with fines starting at 30,000 baht per kilogram.
Can I bring my prescribed medical cannabis to Thailand?
The Thai FDA's traveller guidance said importing cannabis-based medicinal products was prohibited. Confirm with the Thai FDA or a Thai embassy before travelling with any such product.
Will the law change again?
Possibly. A Cannabis and Hemp Control Act was being drafted in 2026 and was not expected in parliament before January 2027.
Sources
- Public Relations Department, Thailand — Thailand restricts cannabis to medical use only (30 June 2025)
- Royal Thai Embassy, Copenhagen — Latest update on cannabis regulations in Thailand (July 2025)
- Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine — Form PT 33, prescription for controlled herb (cannabis), English version
- GOV.UK — Thailand travel advice: Safety and security (laws on drugs and cannabis)
- Thai FDA — Guidance for travellers carrying medications containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances into Thailand (version 3, June 2020; hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Thairath — House Public Health Committee on the Cannabis and Hemp Control Act (16 July 2026)
