Cannabis in Thailand for beginners: the rules in 2026

New to Thailand? What the cannabis rules are now for recreational use, medical use and growing at home, written for first-timers.

Thai cannabis law changes often. The rules have been rewritten several times since 2022, and a new Cannabis and Hemp Act is on its way through Parliament. This page is accurate as of 5 November 2026. Check the date at the top before you rely on it, and check our news page for anything newer.

The short version

Cannabis is legal in Thailand for medical use only.
Recreational use is not allowed.
To buy cannabis flower you need a Thai prescription called a PT33, and you must be 20 or older.
You can only buy it in person from a licensed clinic or shop. No online orders, no delivery.
Never bring cannabis into Thailand or take it out.

Why you may have heard it was legal

In June 2022 Thailand took cannabis off its narcotics list. Thousands of shops opened, and for about three years buying weed in Bangkok was about as easy as buying coffee.

That ended in June 2025. The Ministry of Public Health reclassified cannabis flower as a "controlled herb" and limited sales to medical use with a prescription. Advertising, online sales and vending machines were banned at the same time.

Many shops still look the same from the street, with green signs and jars on display. That is why newcomers get confused. A shop being open does not mean everything it does is legal.

Recreational use

Using cannabis just for fun is not permitted. In practice that means:

You want to...	The rule
Buy weed without a prescription	Not allowed. Shops that sell without a PT33 face up to 1 year in prison and/or a 20,000 baht fine, and can lose their licence.
Smoke in public	Not allowed. It can be prosecuted as a public nuisance, with up to 3 months in prison and a 25,000 baht fine.
Smoke inside a shop or cafe	Not allowed. Shops can be suspended or shut down for letting customers use on site.
Order online or by delivery	Not allowed. Any seller offering this is breaking the law.
Buy edibles	Avoid them. Food and drinks need Thai FDA approval, and homemade edibles have put people in hospital.
Smoke in your hotel or condo	Up to the building. Many ban smoking of any kind, and a prescription does not override that.

Medical use

This is the legal route, and it is open to foreigners as well as Thais.

See a licensed practitioner. That can be a medical doctor or a Thai traditional medicine practitioner, at a clinic or a licensed dispensary with one on site.
Get assessed. If cannabis is appropriate for your condition, they issue a PT33 prescription.
Buy only what is prescribed. A PT33 covers up to a 30-day supply.
Bring ID. Your passport or Thai ID card. Foreign prescriptions and medical cards are not accepted.
Keep your paperwork. Carry your PT33 and receipt whenever you carry cannabis.

Consultations in Bangkok usually cost a few hundred baht. Our PT33 guide walks through the process, and our clinic directory lists places that issue them.

What about CBD? Products with less than 0.2% THC are treated more leniently than flower. CBD food, drinks and cosmetics still need Thai FDA approval, so look for the FDA number on the packaging.

Growing at home

This is the least clear part of Thai cannabis law, so take extra care.

Today's rules focus on selling, not growing. The June 2025 controlled-herb rules cover selling, processing, research and export of cannabis flower. They do not set a home plant limit.
Register your plants. Since 2022 the Thai FDA has asked people growing at home to register through its Plook Ganja app or the website plookganja.fda.moph.go.th.
Home growing is for household medical use. Selling your harvest, processing it commercially or exporting it needs a licence.
Seeds are controlled. Cannabis and hemp seeds are "controlled seeds" under the Plants Act, and importing them needs permission from the Department of Agriculture. Do not pack seeds in your luggage.
Think about your building. Landlords and condo rules can ban growing, and a smell complaint from a neighbour can turn into a nuisance case.
Expect change. The draft Cannabis and Hemp Act would regulate cannabis "from seed to sale". Once it passes, the home growing rules are likely to change.

Bringing cannabis in or taking it out

Do not do it, even with a prescription. Exporting cannabis can mean up to 10 years in prison, and Customs now adds a 30,000 baht fine for every kilo seized. Many countries in the region, and possibly your home country, punish cannabis possession far more harshly than Thailand does. Never carry a bag or parcel for anyone else.

Quick checklist

Over 20, with your passport
PT33 from a licensed Thai practitioner
Shop confirmed on the official MC-GIS map
Use it in private only
Nothing in your luggage when you fly

Rules change, so keep checking

Thailand has changed its cannabis rules more than once a year since 2022, and more changes are coming. Before you act on anything:

Check the "updated" date on any guide you read, including this one
Read our full law explainer for penalties and the timeline
Follow our news page for the latest announcements

This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. If you are facing a legal problem in Thailand, speak to a Thai lawyer.