Medical Cannabis Rules in Thailand

Last updated October 2026.

In 2023, Thailand’s cannabis rules were loose and the conversation was about where medical use ended and recreation began. Today the law draws a much firmer line: cannabis flower is for medical use under a prescription, and non-medical use is restricted.

Here is where things stand as of October 2026, and why a licensed dispensary like ours cannot tell you what cannabis might do for your health.

At a glance

Cannabis flower is a controlled herb, supplied by licensed outlets only against a prescription.
A prescription, normally on the PT 33 form, covers up to 30 days and cannot be refilled.
Recreational sales, online sales and smoking in public or on dispensary premises are not allowed.
Dispensaries cannot make health claims: medical decisions belong to licensed practitioners.
A draft Cannabis Control Act is under review and is not yet law.

How the rules have changed

Thailand’s rules have tightened in several steps since 2022, each one narrowing who may sell cannabis flower and to whom.

June 2022: cannabis was removed from Thailand’s narcotics list, except for extracts containing more than 0.2% THC by weight.
November 2022: cannabis flower became a controlled herb. Licensed sellers could not sell to anyone under 20, to pregnant or breastfeeding women or to students, could not allow smoking on their premises, and could not advertise.
June 2025: a new Ministry of Public Health announcement limited flower sales to buyers with a prescription and required flower to come from GACP-certified farms.
January and April 2026: stricter rules on licensed practitioners being present and on the types of premises that may sell flower.
October 2026: a draft Cannabis Control Act entered review by the Council of State. It is not yet law, and the remaining steps, including Parliament, are expected to take one to two years.

Timeline of Thailand's cannabis rules from removal from the narcotics list in June 2022 to the draft Cannabis Control Act under review in October 2026. — Sources: Tilleke & Gibbins; Matichon; Thai PBS Policy Watch.

What counts as medical use today

Cannabis flower is a controlled herb under the Thai Traditional Medicine Act. A licensed outlet may only supply it to a buyer who presents a valid cannabis prescription, normally on the official form known as ภ.ท.33 (PT 33).

Duration: a prescription can cover up to 30 days.
Single supply: each prescription is for a single supply and cannot be refilled.
Records: prescriptions are tied to conditions approved by the authorities, and the outlet must keep each one for at least a year for inspection.
Origin: the flower itself must come from a GACP-certified Thai farm.

New outlets must now be a hospital or clinic, a pharmacy or a licensed herbal product shop, with department-trained staff on duty during opening hours and proper odour and smoke control.

Three cards showing what medical use means today: a PT 33 prescription, the types of outlet allowed, and flower from a GACP-certified Thai farm. — Sources: Tilleke & Gibbins; Bangkok Biz News; The Thaiger.

Who can write a prescription?

Seven professions may issue a cannabis prescription: medical doctors, Thai traditional medicine practitioners, applied Thai traditional medicine practitioners, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, pharmacists, dentists and folk healers. Medical doctors must practise in a clinic or hospital. Prescriptions sent by chat or social media are reportedly regarded as not meeting the rules.

The role of Thai traditional medicine

Cannabis has a long history in Thai traditional medicine. The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has compiled old formulas with cannabis as a main ingredient, and licensed Thai traditional and folk medicine practitioners are among those allowed to prescribe. That is why the whole system sits under the Thai Traditional Medicine Act and is overseen by that department, rather than being run purely through hospitals.

What about non-medical use?

Recreational sales are banned, and the current rules do not allow licensed outlets to sell flower without a prescription. In practice this means:

Who: sales to anyone under 20 and to pregnant or breastfeeding women are not allowed.
Where: smoking in public places is not permitted, and fines for public consumption can reach 25,000 baht. Smoking is not allowed on dispensary premises either.
How: online sales are not permitted.
Travel: cannabis must not be taken out of Thailand. Thai police warned travellers in July 2026 that penalties under customs law can include up to 10 years in prison.

The draft Cannabis Control Act would go further, making recreational use an offence except under licensed medical supervision or approved research. Until it passes, the current controlled-herb rules apply. Our guide to cannabis rules in Thailand for visitors explains how this affects tourists.

If you are planning a visit, bring your passport or Thai ID. Flower can only be supplied against a valid prescription from a Thai-licensed practitioner, and our page on visiting a dispensary on Pattaya 3rd Road explains what to expect.

Why dispensaries cannot make health claims

You may notice that we never say a product is good for any condition or symptom. There are clear reasons for this.

Advertising is banned: licensed sellers may not advertise cannabis flower in any channel, and the draft act would continue that ban.
Medical decisions belong to practitioners: under the prescription system, a licensed practitioner assesses the person and decides whether cannabis is appropriate. A shop is not qualified to do that.
The evidence varies: for many conditions, research on cannabis is still limited or ongoing. Practitioners are trained to weigh that evidence for an individual patient.

What we can do is explain the rules, show you lab results and describe products by their cannabinoid content, aroma and origin.

If you have any question about cannabis and your health, speak to a Thai-licensed medical practitioner.

Key takeaways

If you would like to talk any of this through, or are unsure whether you meet the requirements, you are welcome to visit our store on Pattaya 3rd Road or contact the CannaBuri team with your questions. We are always happy to explain how things work.

This article is general information, not legal or medical advice.

Medical vs Non-Medical Cannabis in Thailand: 2026 Rules

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