Cannabis is a controlled herb, not an open retail product
On 25 June 2025 cannabis flower was reclassified as a controlled herb under Thai traditional medicine law. The era of walking in and buying over the counter ended on that date. It is not banned — it is prescription-controlled, which is a different thing, and it is still entirely legal to obtain if you go through the proper process.
You need a PT-33 prescription
A PT-33 (พ.ท.33) is a prescription issued by a practitioner licensed under Thai traditional medicine law. It authorises a supply of up to 30 days. Without one, no licensed shop in Thailand can legally sell to you, and any shop that offers to is putting both of you at risk.
Who can issue one
Only a DTAM-licensed practitioner, consulting through a registered clinic platform. Prescriptions arranged over personal Facebook or LINE accounts are explicitly prohibited, regardless of what the person on the other end tells you. If a shop offers to sort your prescription through a chat app, that is a signal to walk away.
Can tourists still buy?
Yes, provided you hold a valid prescription from a licensed Thai practitioner. Your nationality is not the barrier and a foreign prescription will not substitute. What matters is a valid PT-33 issued in Thailand. Bring your passport.
What to bring
Your valid PT-33 prescription and photo identification — passport for visitors, Thai ID for residents. We verify the prescription and the issuing practitioner’s licence before any sale. This takes a few minutes and it is not negotiable.
What we cannot do
We cannot sell without a prescription. We cannot sell online, deliver, or take orders in advance. We cannot advertise cannabis products, publish a menu, quote prices, or describe effects — Thai law prohibits direct and indirect advertising of cannabis across all media, so you will not find any of that on this site. If another shop is doing those things, they are operating outside the rules.
Why so many shops closed
Of roughly 18,400 licensed cannabis shops in Thailand, more than 7,000 did not renew after the rules tightened. Around 11,000 remain. The April 2026 regulation raised the bar further, requiring a qualifying medical or herbal licence and a DTAM-trained staff member on the premises during opening hours. Fewer shops, operating properly, is the direction of travel.
Current as at 25 August 2026. Thai cannabis regulation has changed twice in fourteen months; we review this page when it does.