Is cannabis legal in Thailand in 2025? What are the current rules?

Thailand's cannabis legal status as of 2025 is complex and evolving. **Timeline:** - **June 2022:** Cannabis removed from the narcotics list (Category 5) — start of a largely unregulated period - **26 June 2025:** Cannabis flower reclassified as a *controlled herb* (สมุนไพรควบคุม), ending the open recreational market - **April 2026:** Further ministerial regulations tightened controls on cannabis and hemp extracts **Current rules (2026):** Cannabis is treated as medical/controlled use — buying or possessing cannabis flower generally requires a **prescription from a licensed practitioner**, and recreational use is no longer permitted. **What is LEGAL:** - Medical cannabis use with a valid prescription - Licensed commercial cultivation and processing under the controlled-herb rules - Possession of prescribed cannabis from licensed sources - Hemp cultivation for industrial purposes (with license) - Approved CBD/hemp products within the permitted THC limits from licensed sellers **What is RESTRICTED/ILLEGAL:** - Smoking cannabis in public places — fines up to THB 25,000 - Sale to persons under 20 years old — criminal offense - Sale by unlicensed vendors — penalties include fines and imprisonment - Advertising or promotion of recreational cannabis - Driving under the influence — standard DUI penalties apply - Import/export without license — treated as narcotics offense **For tourists:** - Do NOT assume cannabis is freely available or legal to use everywhere - Licensed cannabis shops exist but regulations on who can purchase may apply - Consuming in hotels, public spaces, or temples is illegal - Carrying cannabis to the airport or across borders is a serious criminal offense - Some provinces and venues have additional local restrictions **Important:** The regulatory landscape is still evolving. Rules may differ between what is written in law and local enforcement practices. When in doubt, avoid public consumption and only purchase from clearly licensed establishments.