Is Cannabis Legal in Thailand in 2025?

⚠️ IMPORTANT UPDATE – JUNE 2025 REGULATIONS
As of June 27, 2025, Thailand requires medical prescriptions for ALL cannabis purchases. Recreational use without prescriptions is prohibited. Tourists cannot legally purchase cannabis without Thai medical documentation. This represents a major change from previous policies described in this article.

The short answer is YES for medical use only – recreational access now requires medical prescriptions as of June 27, 2025.

Cannabis in Thailand as of July 2025 has been reclassified as a controlled herb following new emergency regulations implemented on June 27, 2025. While it was decriminalized in 2022, the Thai government imposed strict new rules requiring medical prescriptions for all cannabis purchases, effectively ending recreational access.

Cannabis is now legal only when used for medical purposes with a valid prescription from a licensed medical professional in Thailand. For individuals or organizations who are determined to grow cannabis, they must register a cultivation license approved by the Thai FDA. Those with valid medical prescriptions may consume cannabis in private settings only, such as homes. Non-prescription use, even in private, is now prohibited. Using cannabis recreationally in public places is viewed as a public nuisance—according to the Thai cannabis law, it is illegal to smoke cannabis in public. If caught in the act, one can face fines or legal penalties. Cannabis is still illegal when it is sold, marketed, or distributed without an authorized government license. Additionally, carrying cannabis across the Thai border, in and out, even in small quantities or personal products, is strictly prohibited.

In short, cannabis is legal in Thailand with a framework of medical intent, personal privacy, and official permission. Any missteps can still carry consequences, especially for travelers or unlicensed operators.

The Legal Cannabis Confusion in 2025

In 2022, Thailand made an unexpected suprise to the global cannabis industry as the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis. Now in 2025, the reality of this is more compliacted than what made to the news headline.

Yes, cannabis is legal—but only to a degree. While the medical cannabis industry continues to grow and attract investment, the regulatory framework remains a work in progress. For consumers, patients, tourists, and even Thai citizens, the rules can feel like a patchwork of permissions and prohibitions.

In this article, whether you’re a curious traveler, a medical patient, or a stakeholder of the industry, consider using this as a guide to break it down as of the 2025 Thai cannabis laws.

Key Takeaways

• Cannabis requires medical prescriptions for all purchases as of June 27, 2025
• Recreational use, even in private, is prohibited without valid prescriptions
• Tourists and foreigners must obtain prescriptions from Thai-licensed medical professionals
• Dispensaries can only sell to customers with valid prescriptions and must keep the wet-signed copy of the prescription to comply
• Public use remains illegal with fines up to 25,000 baht and potential imprisonment
• Dispensaries must buy and sell from GACP certified farm
  

For Tourists: Major Changes as of June 2025

Foreigners and tourists face the strictest restrictions:

• Tourists are prohibited from using, buying, carrying, or transporting cannabis flowers without a valid prescription issued in Thailand
• Prescriptions must come from Thai-licensed medical professionals (traditional medicine practitioners, doctors, or dentists)
• Even with prescriptions, dispensation is limited to medical necessity and cannot exceed a 30-day supply
• Tourist cannabis use without proper Thai medical documentation is now illegal

For Consumers: What You Can (and Can’t) Do

Cannabis laws in Thailand can feel like getting lost in a legal maze, even the locals themselves can easily feel the same way towards this new law as a tourist or a medical patient. What’s legal in 2025 requires a valid prescription: the ability to possess cannabis flower with proper medical documentation, and consuming it in private spaces only with prescription authorization. You can purchase cannabis products from licensed dispensaries only with a valid prescription from a Thai-licensed medical professional. Dispensaries can no longer sell to customers without prescriptions. While CBD products don’t require a prescription, dried low-THC cannabis flower (above 0.2% THC) and extracts now require a medical prescription for purchase. Wellness products like oils and edibles also require FDA approval, and currently no edible products have received FDA approval except for brand Baked cookies containing 0.2% THC.

When it comes to what you cannot do, there are a few things that should be kept in mind. As mentioned, smoking in public areas, including parks, streets, or hotels, is prohibited and can lead to fines or imprisonment. While cannabis possession is legal, but only with legal limits of THC levels of not more than 0.2% for extracts set by Thai authorities. The possession of cannabis extracts containing over 0.2% THC requires permission. Driving under the influence in Thailand, including cannabis, can cause an individual to face up to 20,000 baht in penalties or one year imprisonment.

For Patients: Medical Use and Prescriptions

In Thailand, cannabis extracts remain fully legal for medical purposes. However, as of June 2025, all access requires a valid prescription and must be supervised by licensed healthcare professionals. However, access to them is regulated and must be supervised by licensed healthcare professionals. 

Who qualifies? To legally use medical cannabis in Thailand in 2025, an individual must obtain a doctor’s recommendation after consulting with a licensed physician for a formal diagnosis and determining if cannabis is an appropriate approach for treatment. This written recommendation or prescription for cannabis will be further required as part of the application for a medical marijuana card in Thailand. Once a doctor’s note is secured, it is also essential for one to obtain the possession requirements for cannabis.

Adhering to the possession limits is crucial; those with medical marijuana cards are allowed to possess a maximum of 30 grams of cannabis at any given time. Exceeding legal limits could result in legal consequences.

The conditions that are approved for prescription include:

• Chronic pain
• Cancer-related symptoms
• Epilepsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Anxiety disorders

For Businesses: Licensing, Cultivation & Sales

With the new amendment of the cannabis law in Thailand, the country’s cannabis industry is opening the door wide for business, but it is tightly regulated, meaning that regardless of who you are—growers, manufacturers, or sellers—compliance with the Thai cannabis law is non-negotiable.

Cultivation: Legal, But Licensed

Only businesses registered with the Thai FDA are permitted to operate cannabis cultivation. Complying with the GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) to ensure safety and consistency is essential for a medical-grade cannabis production business. For instance, Iridescent Med, a certified cannabis operation, demonstrates what compliant production looks like through its clean-room protocols and international export standards.

Retail & Sales: Dispensary Rules

As of June 27, 2025, all dispensaries must verify customer prescriptions before any cannabis flower sales. Sales for recreational purposes are prohibited, and businesses allowing smoking on premises without medical supervision and clinic license may face penalties.

Since the delisting in 2022, Thailand had over 11,200 cannabis dispensaries, but the June 2025 regulations now require all dispensaries to operate under strict medical-only guidelines with prescription verification requirements. This license legally allows a dispensary to sell cannabis flowers. Cannabis businesses in Thailand are also asked to cooperate in submitting monthly reports about the sourcing, selling, and inventory of cannabis flowers.

On August 11, 2023, there was a rise in another nascent cannabis law. The Narcotics Control Division of the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted a Draft Regulation Re: Application for Approval and Approval for Manufacture, Importation, Exportation, Distribution or Possession of Narcotics under Category 5 (Extracts from Cannabis or Hemp Plants Only). What sets the requirements between the DTTAM and the Thai FDA apart is that the Thai FDA requires businesses like domestic manufacturers, importers, exporters, and sellers of cannabis extracts to apply for a license. However, the Thai FDA will consider granting a license only in the following cases:

• For medical benefits
• For commercial or industrial benefits
• For the benefit of medical or scientific analysis or research
• For use by the government for preventing and suppressing narcotics-related offenses.

Can You Export or Import Cannabis in 2025?

Thailand’s cannabis trade has skyrocketed after the cannabis plant was removed from the category 5 narcotics. When it comes to trading across international borders, strict rules are inescapable. Here’s what cannabis businesses and individuals in Thailand need to know:

Exporting Cannabis: Allowed, with Tight Controls

Yes, exporting cannabis from the Land of Smiles is possible, but it comes with rigorous conditions. To export cannabis from Thailand, businesses require special licenses issued by the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including licenses for growing, making products, and exporting. There are also strict rules regarding the legal THC limits in exported products, which can vary depending on which country you’re sending to.

Importing Cannabis: Highly Restricted

Bringing cannabis into Thailand is different, and surely, the regulations are more limited. According to the “​​​​Notification of Department of Agriculture Re: Conditions for Import of Cannabis and Hemp Seeds B.E. 2565 (2022),” businesses aiming to import cannabis and hemp (Cannabis sativa) seeds into Thailand must obtain an import permit issued by the Department of Agriculture (DOA). Additionally, the Thai FDA has announced that the importation of cannabis-based or hemp-based foods for personal use is not allowed.

Recent Cannabis Regulation Changes: What Has Already Changed

Thailand’s cannabis landscape changed dramatically in June 2025 when the Ministry of Public Health implemented emergency regulations reclassifying cannabis as a controlled herb (published on Royal Gazette), requiring prescriptions for all purchases. In short? The legal landscape is tightened, but the path forward for medical cannabis is getting clearer.

What to Expect:

The Thai government plans to tighten its regulatory framework towards cannabis as the cannabis industry within the country has become so popular. The new proposed cannabis regulation bill, drafted by the Ministry of Public Health, envisions keeping the plant legal with stricter controls. The key provisions include: 

• Permitted Use for Medical and Scientific Research

The new Thai cannabis laws will allow medical cannabis and its extracts to be permitted for use in medical treatments and research purposes conducted by state agencies.

• Limitations on Non-Medical Consumption (Recreational Use)

The previous draft bill had a clear intention to ban recreational cannabis use, but the new bill appears to take on a softer stance with heavy restrictions. This new bill will no longer contain a clause to prohibit the consumption of cannabis for non-medical purposes, allowing a more balanced approach to personal use for individuals. Recreational cannabis can be used in products, such as herbal remedies, medicines, food, and cosmetics, known as commercial products. However, these products must strictly comply with all relevant laws such as the Herbal Product Act, Medicine Act, and Food Act.

• Rules for Licensing and Adherence

The proposed bill plans to introduce the tightening of licensing rules for the cultivation, sales, exports, and imports of cannabis. Current cannabis growers, suppliers, and related businesses will be required to obtain new licenses or permits to avoid penalties. A Cannabis Regulatory Board, led by the Minister of Public Health, will be established to be in charge of the industry. This board will issue licenses, set regulations, and offer further guidance. There will be a big change in the cultivation of cannabis licenses. Under the new cannabis law, cultivation licenses will be categorized based on land size:

• Small scale: Up to 5 rai (about 1.98 acres / 0.8 hectares).
• Medium scale: Up to 20 rai (about 7.9 acres / 3.2 hectares).
• Large scale: Up to 400 rai (about 158 acres / 64 hectares).

Prohibited Sales Methods

Businesses cannot sell cannabis using the following methods:

• Vending machines,
• Electronic channels, or
• Promotional activities include giveaways, discounts, or bundling with other products
• Peddling or exchanging cannabis for goods or services

Sales in Commercial Products

Cannabis for medical and recreational purposes may be sold as an ingredient in products like herbal remedies, medicines, food, and cosmetics.

Iridescent Med’s Role in the Legal Ecosystem

While Thailand’s cannabis continues to grow, Iridescent Med stands at the forefront as the country’s medical cannabis movement to offer a model of trust, compliance, and global readiness.

We are a GACP-certified cannabis producer from Thailand focused on pharmaceutical-grade cultivation, trusted by regulators and global distributors. From in-house facility, clean-room cultivation (ISO8 standards) to OEM manufacturing and export, our operation is built to meet the highest standards compliant to the pharmaceutical industry. At Iridescent Med, we provide safe access to cannabis for the general public, with a deep commitment to patient care and legal clarity. We ensure every product is traceable, quality-controlled, and ready for international markets.

Final Thoughts: Should You Be Worried About Cannabis Legality in Thailand?

Yes, regulations have become significantly stricter as of June 2025. Non-prescription cannabis use is now prohibited, and tourists face particular restrictions. With the right approach, you can confidently navigate your experience or business safely. For consumers, you must now obtain a valid prescription from a Thai-licensed medical professional before purchasing from any dispensary. Those being medical cannabis patients assure to go to a certified medical location, obtain a proper doctor’s prescription, and register for medical marijuana cards and possession licenses. Cannabis businesses in Thailand should stay up to date and ensure to obtain the right type of licenses.

At Iridescent Med, we’re here to help consumers, patients, and distributors understand and comply with Thailand’s developing cannabis laws. We’re ready to support safe and legal cannabis in Thailand.

Disclaimer

This article reflects regulations as of July 2025, following major policy changes implemented in June 2025. Cannabis laws in Thailand change frequently – always verify current regulations with official Thai government sources before travel or purchase.