Thailand Cannabis & Weed Law 2026: What's Legal Now, Shop Rules and the New Bill

The short version

As of October 2026, cannabis in Thailand is back to a "medical use only" system. Cannabis flower is a controlled herb, buying it requires a prescription from a licensed practitioner, sales licence applicants must be a legally operating healthcare facility, pharmacy or herbal-product shop, and the government is pushing a dedicated law — the draft Cannabis Control Act — which the Cabinet approved on 22 Sep 2026 and which is now with the Council of State.

Which laws apply right now?

1. Cannabis flower is a "controlled herb"

The Ministry of Public Health Announcement on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) B.E. 2568 (2025) was published in the Royal Gazette on 25 Jun 2025 and took effect on 26 Jun 2025. Issued under the law on the protection and promotion of Thai traditional medicine knowledge, it designates cannabis flower a controlled herb. Its main effects are:

• Flower may only be sold by licensed sellers and only dispensed against a licensed practitioner's prescription.
• Each dispensing is limited to no more than a 30-day supply.
• Advertising is banned, as are sales through vending machines, electronic channels or computer networks.
• Sales are banned in sensitive areas such as temples, dormitories, public parks, zoos and amusement parks.

2. ภ.ท.33 controlled-herb prescription form

Cannabis flower must be dispensed using the ภ.ท.33 controlled-herb prescription form, issued by a practitioner designated by law (see our guide to using cannabis legally).

3. Ministerial Regulation on the sale of controlled herbs (No. 2) B.E. 2569 (2026)

Published in the Royal Gazette on 29 Apr 2026 and in force since 30 Apr 2026. All sales licence applicants, both new and renewing, must:

• Be a legally operating healthcare facility, pharmacy or herbal-product shop, or a certified folk healer
• Have staff trained by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) on duty at all times during opening hours
• Have an effective odour- and smoke-control system

Read more: How to Open a Cannabis Shop in Thailand (2026)

4. More enforcement officers

The Announcement appointing enforcement officers (No. 2) B.E. 2569 (2026) was published in the Royal Gazette on 13 Mar 2026 and took effect on 14 Mar 2026. It makes police, provincial and district administration officials (Ministry of Interior) — such as provincial governors, district chiefs and deputy district chiefs — and officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and Pattaya City enforcement officers alongside public health officials, more than 200,000 in total.

The draft Cannabis Control Act: the new law on the way

The Cabinet approved the draft Cannabis Control Act on 22 Sep 2026, and since 6 Oct 2026 it has been under review by the Council of State before being submitted to Parliament. According to the Ministry of Public Health, its main provisions are:

• National committee chaired by the Minister of Public Health, setting cannabis regulatory policy nationwide.
• Licensing system: cultivation, production, import, export and sale require a licence from the Director-General of DTAM, valid for 3 years. Sale of roots, branches, stems, leaves, stalks and seeds is exempt.
• Registration of cultivation plots, split into small, medium and large, to allow traceability.
• Protection of vulnerable groups: no sales to people under 20, pregnant women or breastfeeding women, and no sales in areas such as temples, schools, dormitories, public parks, zoos and amusement parks.
• Advertising ban on cannabis flower, cannabis resin and smoking equipment.
• Medical use only: recreational use is an offence punishable by a fine, while unlicensed sellers face both imprisonment and fines.

The bill is not yet in force, and its content may change during review by the Council of State and Parliament. We will update this page whenever there is progress.

What to do now

• Shop operators: check your licence expiry date and plan to bring your shop into line with the new requirements before your renewal is due.
• Clinics and practitioners: review your ภ.ท.33 prescription system and patient record-keeping. See our guide to opening a medical cannabis clinic.
• Patients and tourists: buy only from registered premises. Do not bring cannabis into or out of the country.

Further reading

• Hemp in Thailand: what it is and is it legal?
• Can I grow cannabis at home in Thailand?
• Cannabis oil in Thailand: legal status and medical use

See the full sequence of events in our Thailand Cannabis Law Timeline 2022–2026

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