How Thailand went from decriminalisation to a new tightening
In 2022 Thailand became the first country in Asia to remove cannabis from the list of narcotic substances — and for several years the country turned into one of the few destinations in the region where foreigners massively associated a trip with legal access to marijuana. Across the country, especially in the tourist areas of Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, thousands of dispensaries opened with characteristic green signs in the form of a cannabis leaf. It is this image — “bought, smoked, no questions asked” — that still lives on in old blogs, forums and the advice of friends who were in Thailand several years ago.
The situation changed on 23 June 2025, when a new Ministry of Health regulation came into force, replacing the previous 2022 document. Formally, cannabis as a plant is still excluded from the list of narcotic substances — this is not a rollback to full criminalisation. But the regulation introduced strict restrictions precisely on recreational (non-medical) use, effectively depriving tourists of the freedom that existed in the first couple of years after decriminalisation.
What a tourist can and cannot do now
Since 23 June 2025 a foreigner is forbidden to use, acquire, transport or store cannabis without a valid prescription issued by a certified practitioner of traditional Thai medicine, Chinese medicine or a dentist — and the prescription must be obtained in Thailand itself; a document brought from another country will not do. Even with a prescription, the amount permitted to be stored must not exceed the 30-day norm calculated by the practitioner at the time of prescribing — and possession of more than 30 grams is automatically interpreted as intent to supply, which means an entirely different, far more serious level of criminal liability.
Smoking cannabis on the street, on the beach or in the common areas of a hotel is forbidden — this carries a fine of up to 25,000 baht and/or imprisonment of up to 3 months for “breach of public order”. Use is permitted only in private in accordance with the instructions of the practitioner who issued the prescription. Taking cannabis or products based on it out of Thailand is categorically forbidden — an attempt to do so is classed as drug smuggling with all the ensuing consequences. Driving after use is also forbidden.
Why a green sign on a shop is no longer a guarantee of legality
In 2026 the authorities continue to tighten control with additional measures: mandatory licensing of shops with checks on buyers, a ban on advertising (especially in foreign languages, clearly aimed at tourists) and fines for points of sale that dispense goods without medical indications are under discussion. A surge in attempts by tourists to smuggle cannabis out of the country has also become one of the reasons for the tightening — the authorities are reacting precisely to the abuse of the “medical” cannabis status by tourists who treated it as recreational.
The practical conclusion: if you see a dispensary with the familiar green sign, this no longer means an automatic right to buy and use the product without a prescription — since 2025 such an outlet is obliged to demand a prescription from the buyer, and a sale without one is formally illegal for both parties to the transaction.
A practical checklist
- Legal use of cannabis in Thailand since 23 June 2025 requires a prescription from a Thai practitioner — “just buy and smoke” no longer works.
- Possession without a prescription, smoking in a public place — a fine of up to 25,000 baht and/or up to 3 months in prison.
- Possession of more than 30 grams, even with a prescription, is interpreted as intent to supply — a far more serious charge.
- Taking cannabis out of the country is categorically forbidden — that is smuggling, not an administrative offence.
- Old tips that “marijuana is legal in Thailand” from articles and forums of 2022–2024 are outdated — don’t rely on them.
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that marijuana is legalised in Thailand?
Cannabis has been removed from the list of narcotic substances since 2022, but since 23 June 2025 recreational use is effectively banned — you can legally use it only with a prescription from a Thai practitioner.
Can a tourist get a prescription for cannabis in Thailand?
Formally yes, from a licensed practitioner of traditional Thai or Chinese medicine or from a dentist — but this is not a tourist formality but a real medical consultation with a limit on quantity in line with the prescription.
What happens if you smoke in a public place without a prescription?
A fine of up to 25,000 baht and/or imprisonment of up to 3 months for breach of public order.
Can I take cannabis bought in Thailand home?
No, this is categorically forbidden and is classed as drug smuggling — don’t confuse the medical status inside the country with a right to export.
What next
Look at the general guide to safety in Thailand and sort out the rules on vapes and alcohol — they too differ greatly from what was written in old guidebooks.
The rules on cannabis circulation in Thailand continue to change — before your trip check current information rather than advice from years ago.
