Is weed still legal in Thailand in 2026?
Last updated
Short answer: Partly. Cannabis is no longer a narcotic in Thailand, but since June 2025 cannabis flower is a controlled herb that can be bought only with a prescription. Recreational sales are banned. A new law is still a draft as of 19 October 2026, so today's rules are the ones below.
Key facts
- Status: not a narcotic. Cannabis flower is a "controlled herb".
- To buy flower: a prescription on Form PT 33 from a licensed practitioner, covering no more than 30 days.
- Not allowed: recreational sales, online and vending-machine sales, and advertising.
- Pending: a draft law, approved by Cabinet on 22 September 2026 and not yet passed.
What is legal in Thailand today?
Cannabis was removed from the narcotics list in 2022 and has not been put back. What changed is how the flower, the dried bud, is sold. Since late June 2025 the Ministry of Public Health has treated it as a controlled herb. Licensed outlets may sell it only to a person who presents a valid prescription, and each prescription covers no more than 30 days. Guides report that products with less than 0.2% THC, such as many CBD products, are still sold without a prescription.
What is not legal?
- Selling cannabis flower for recreational use.
- Selling it online, through vending machines, or with any form of advertising, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
- Selling it in designated public areas such as temples, dormitories, parks, zoos and amusement venues (TAT).
- Shops that offer cannabis for smoking, especially to walk-in customers, may be operating outside the law (TAT).
- Smoking in public. It can be treated as a public nuisance, and guides report fines of up to 25,000 baht.
- Taking cannabis out of Thailand. Many countries treat it as a narcotic, so it can lead to arrest at the border.
What changed, and when?
| Date | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 22 September 2026 | Cabinet approves a draft law to control cannabis from cultivation to sale. It goes to Parliament next. | The Edge Malaysia |
| April to May 2026 | A new ministerial regulation sets licensing for research, export, sale and processing of controlled herbs. Only licensed facilities such as hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and registered herbal shops may apply. Staff must be trained and records kept for at least a year. | Pattaya Mail |
| January 2026 | Dispensaries are required to have a licensed practitioner on site. | Thaiger |
| Late June 2025 | Flower becomes a controlled herb. A prescription is required, and recreational, online and advertised sales are banned. | TAT, Tilleke & Gibbins |
| June 2022 | Cannabis is removed from the narcotics list. | TAT |
Is a new law coming?
Yes, as a draft. Cabinet approved it on 22 September 2026, and it must now go to Parliament. No date for a vote or for the law taking effect has been reported. In July, The Star reported that the draft had finished public consultation in early June. Reported contents: growers would register their plantations, dispensaries that want to continue would have to become licensed medical facilities with qualified practitioners on site, existing licences would expire in stages, and penalties would rise. The Edge says licences expire in stages through 2028, and The Star gives different figures. Neither report describes a rule change specific to tourists. Until the law passes, today's rules apply.
Will cannabis go back on the narcotics list?
Not so far. The Star reported that the health minister said re-listing would need separate legislation under narcotics law, and that the control bill must be finished first.
FAQ
Can I still buy weed in Thailand?
Yes, but flower only with a PT 33 prescription from a Thai-licensed practitioner. You can see a practitioner at a licensed clinic, or use a telemedicine service such as Botanic RX to get a prescription.
Is weed legal for tourists?
Only through the same prescription route. See Can tourists buy weed in Thailand?
Did Thailand make weed illegal again?
Not in the sense of returning it to the narcotics list. Flower is now tightly controlled and recreational sale is not allowed. You can still get flower with a prescription.
Where can I check the latest rules?
The Cannabis Medical Coordination Center of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, on 0 2257 7042 (Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:00), or the Food and Drug Administration hotline, 1556.
Sources
Not for emergencies: call 1669. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice.