How to get a cannabis prescription in Thailand, step by step
Last updated
Short answer: You need a PT 33 prescription from a Thai-licensed practitioner, issued after an assessment and covering no more than 30 days. You then buy from a licensed outlet that checks your ID and the form. The steps are: choose a licensed provider, bring your ID, be assessed, receive the PT 33, and buy within its term.
Key facts
- The document: Form PT 33 (Phor Thor 33, ภท.33), the official prescription form for cannabis flower.
- Who issues it: a licensed practitioner. Sources list between three and seven professional categories, so ask for the practitioner's licence number.
- Validity: no more than 30 days, one-time use, no refills.
- ID: passport or Thai ID card.
- Age: sources report a minimum of 20 years.
- Cost: depends on the provider. Botanic RX charges only 150 baht per session, for a prescription covering up to 30 days.
What is a PT 33?
A PT 33 is the form a licensed practitioner uses to prescribe cannabis flower. According to Tilleke & Gibbins, the prescriber chooses the product type or strain, the dosage and the duration of use, and the practitioner's licence number and signature must be on it. The outlet must verify the buyer's personal details, keep the prescription for at least a year, and show it to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine or the police on request.
How do you get one, step by step?
- Check the provider is licensed. Ask for the practitioner's licence number. Registered outlets are listed on the Department's website with their licence expiry dates, and an outlet that is not listed should be treated as unregistered.
- Prepare your ID and history. Have your passport or Thai ID, your current medications and any relevant medical records ready.
- Have the consultation. The practitioner asks about your symptoms and history and decides whether cannabis is appropriate. Payment does not guarantee approval.
- Receive your PT 33. It is issued in your name, with the product, quantity and duration, for no more than 30 days.
- Buy from a licensed outlet. Staff check your ID against the form and keep the prescription.
- Keep your receipt and details. Use cannabis privately and do not take it out of Thailand.
Who cannot get a prescription?
Sources report that buyers must be at least 20 and that pregnant or breastfeeding women are not permitted. A practitioner can also decline for medical reasons. Confirm the current rules with your provider.
In person or online?
The 2025 notification does not mention online consultations, and Tilleke & Gibbins reports that policymakers considered a casual online chat with a prescription sent by email or social media non-compliant. An online consultation must go through a licensed telemedicine system. Whatever route you choose, check that a licensed practitioner assesses you, that a PT 33 is issued in your name, and that the outlet can verify it.
How Botanic RX works. Sign up from home with your email, or let shop staff register you with your ID card. Describe your symptoms, then take a video call with the on-duty doctor, who asks about your history, records the visit and issues a PT 33 if appropriate. The prescription appears in the app with a QR code. Show it with your ID at the branch you chose while it is valid.
How much does it cost?
Costs vary by provider. Ask any provider for the total before the consultation, including the product, because the consultation and the cannabis are charged separately. A Botanic RX video consultation costs only 150 baht. Each prescription covers a maximum of 30 days.
What happens when the prescription ends?
A PT 33 cannot be refilled. For a later purchase you need a new assessment and a new prescription.
FAQ
Can a dispensary issue the PT 33 on the spot?
Only if a licensed practitioner is on site, or if you consult one through a telemedicine service such as Botanic RX.
Does a PT 33 let me smoke anywhere?
No. Smoking in public can be treated as a public nuisance. Please choose a private place where you will not disturb others.
Can I use my PT 33 more than once?
No. It is one-time use.
Will the practitioner always prescribe?
No. Approval is not automatic.
Sources
Not for emergencies: call 1669. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice.