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The new framework for weed law in Thailand
As of 26 June 2025, the weed law in Thailand has shifted significantly following the Ministry of Public Health’s publication of Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568 in the Royal Gazette. This new regulation effectively reverses the liberal framework that applied between 2019 and 2022. It reclassifies cannabis as a controlled herb and imposes strict limitations on its use, cultivation, sale, and export. The government introduced this change in response to growing concerns about unregulated recreational use and its impact on public health and safety.
Under this new legal regime, cannabis is no longer accessible for recreational purposes. Its use is now restricted exclusively to medical treatment, and only individuals with a valid prescription issued by a licensed Thai medical practitioner may legally possess and consume cannabis-based products. The 2025 law builds upon the Herbal Product Act B.E. 2562 and amends the relaxed regulatory environment that emerged following the Narcotics Act (No. 7) B.E. 2562, which had initially decriminalized certain uses of cannabis for medical purposes. The current framework is therefore a return to a stricter, medically-centered policy model.
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) is the authority responsible for implementing the new legal regime. DTAM oversees regulation, licensing, control, and inspection at every stage of the cannabis supply chain.
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Table of Contents
Consumption under the new weed law in Thailand
Under the 2025 legislation, cannabis consumption is strictly limited to medical treatment. To legally access cannabis in Thailand, individuals must obtain a prescription issued by licensed Thai medical professionals. This prescription must detail the specific therapeutic need and dosage and is limited to a thirty-day supply. Doctors must issue each new prescription monthly, and the prescribed quantity must match the individual treatment plan. Any possession of cannabis without a prescription constitutes a criminal offense under Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568 and the Controlled Herbs Act.
Under the new cannabis law, individuals may consume cannabis only for medical treatment. In Thailand, patients may legally access cannabis only with a prescription issued by a licensed Thai doctor. The prescription must establish a therapeutic need and is limited to a thirty-day supply. Doctors must renew prescriptions monthly, and each renewal must comply with the approved treatment plan and dosage. Possession of cannabis without a valid prescription constitutes a criminal offence under Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568 and the Controlled Herbs Act.
The law sets strict eligibility conditions for cannabis use. Individuals must be at least twenty years old, and the law prohibits pregnant women from using cannabis, including for medical purposes. Users may consume cannabis only in private, as the law bans public consumption and subjects offenders to criminal prosecution. Under the current provisions, authorities may impose fines up to THB 25,000 and sentences up to three months imprisonment for cannabis consumption in public spaces.
The law further requires the method of administration to correspond strictly to the prescribed medical treatment. Any cannabis product containing more than 0.2% THC qualifies as a narcotic under the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522 and therefore falls under stricter regulatory controls. Overall, users must produce relevant certificates and supporting documentation upon request to demonstrate the legality of possession and use.
Cultivation under the new weed law in Thailand
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) now oversees a comprehensive licensing regime for cannabis cultivation in Thailand. Only individuals or legal entities that obtain prior approval may carry out cultivation activities. Applicants must submit a detailed business plan, environmental control measures, information on seed sourcing, intended medical applications, and proof of compliance with Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP). These standards require cultivators to comply with strict rules on soil testing, pest management, and harvest traceability to ensure the consistency, safety, and medicinal quality of cannabis crops.
Applicants must also demonstrate sufficient financial capacity and technical expertise to operate in a secure, controlled, and hygienic environment. Once authorities grant a licence, cultivators must comply with ongoing obligations, including the periodic submission of reports to the DTAM detailing planting schedules, cultivation volumes, yields, transfers or sales of cannabis biomass, and storage conditions. Cultivators must ensure full traceability at every stage of the supply chain, and authorities retain broad powers to conduct random inspections and audits to verify compliance with licensing conditions and applicable law.
Thai law prohibits home cannabis cultivation unless the individual qualifies as a registered medical patient or a licensed Thai traditional medicine practitioner. Even in such cases, the individual must obtain prior approval from the competent authority. Any cultivation carried out beyond the scope of an issued licence constitutes an offence under Article 12 of Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568. Authorities may impose both criminal and administrative penalties on violators, and DTAM officers may immediately seize and destroy any cannabis plants or related materials found at unauthorised cultivation sites.
Sale under the new weed law in Thailand
Distribution restrictions
Thailand has restructured its cannabis sales framework to restrict access exclusively to verified medical patients. Only licensed dispensaries and pharmacies may sell cannabis or cannabis-based products. These establishments must operate under a licence issued by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) following a rigorous vetting process. This process involves background checks on shareholders and directors, compliance with mandatory storage, security, and labelling requirements, and integration with the national traceability and reporting system to ensure full regulatory oversight of distribution activities.
Licensed sellers may complete a sale only after the buyer presents a valid medical prescription issued by a licensed Thai medical practitioner. Sellers must record each transaction in the digital registry, identifying the patient, the prescribing physician, the approved dosage, and the specific cannabis product dispensed. The law expressly prohibits the sale of cannabis to any individual without proper authorization. Any person who violates this requirement commits unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and faces penalties under the Controlled Herbs Act and, where applicable, the Narcotics Act.
Advertising restrictions
The law also subjects cannabis-related businesses to strict advertising restrictions. Article 9 of Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568 imposes a comprehensive ban on both direct and indirect advertising across all media channels, including print media, television, online platforms, and social media. The law strictly prohibits businesses from promoting cannabis products or making claims about their therapeutic benefits, even when the products target medical use. Authorities may impose administrative sanctions, monetary fines, and suspend or revoke operating licences for any breach of the advertising ban.
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Import and export under the new weed law in Thailand
The law now permits the import and export of cannabis products only under narrowly defined conditions. Entities seeking to import or export cannabis must obtain prior approval from the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) and the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products must serve medical or research purposes and must not exceed a THC threshold of 0.2%, unless the Narcotics Act expressly authorises a higher level for scientific use.
Applicants must submit complete documentation that demonstrates compliance with the laws of both the country of origin and the destination country. Each shipment must include valid export or import permits, medical certificates, and testing reports that verify THC levels. Customs officers may inspect shipments and may seize or destroy any consignment that does not comply with applicable laws.
Unauthorized cross-border movement of cannabis is a criminal offense under the Customs Act B.E. 2560, the Narcotics Act B.E. 2522, and the Controlled Herbs Act B.E. 2562. Individuals or companies engaged in such activities may face prosecution, monetary fines, and imprisonment.
Sanctions under the new weed law in Thailand
Several agencies oversee sanctions for non-compliance, including the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), the Royal Thai Police, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). These authorities conduct regular inspections, investigate alleged violations, and initiate administrative or criminal proceedings against individuals and companies.
Infractions carry severe penalties. Authorities may order business closures, impose fines, and sentence offenders to up to five years’ imprisonment for illegal cannabis cultivation, production, or distribution, with courts assessing leniency on a case-by-case basis. Authorities punish unlawful public cannabis consumption with fines of up to THB 25,000 and imprisonment of up to three months. When traders illegally import or export cannabis, authorities may immediately seize the goods, revoke the relevant trade permits, and prosecute the trader under applicable Thai trade laws.
Authorities may also impose administrative penalties when operators fail to comply with reporting, licensing, or advertising obligations. They maintain a register of violators, and repeated offences may lead to blacklisting and permanent exclusion from cannabis-related activities in Thailand.
Conclusion
The 2025 reform of Thailand’s cannabis law marks a deliberate and structured return to a regime that prioritises public health and legal certainty. The law strictly limits legal cannabis use to verified medical patients and sets out extensive rules governing cultivation, distribution, and cross-border trade. Through this reform, the government has clearly rejected recreational liberalisation and adopted a model based on accountability, traceability, and clinical oversight.
Compliance with this new legal framework is mandatory. Individuals and businesses must fully understand and comply with Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568 and related statutes. Legal counsel is strongly recommended for all participants in the cannabis supply chain, from cultivators and pharmaceutical companies to dispensaries and exporters. Any failure to comply may result in severe legal consequences, including criminal prosecution.
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FAQ
You need a valid prescription from a licensed Thai medical professional. Only 30 days’ supply can be purchased at a time from licensed dispensaries.
No. Public consumption is banned. Violations are punishable by fines or imprisonment.
A license from the DTAM is required for any cannabis-related business. Records must be submitted monthly, as per Article 4 and Section 7 of the relevant ministerial and narcotics regulations.
No. Article 9 of the Ministerial Announcement B.E. 2568 strictly prohibits any form of cannabis promotion.
Only for medical use and only if licensed by the DTAM. The cultivation must comply with GACP standards. Unlicensed cultivation is prohibited under Article 12.