Government reinforces cannabis flower sales & export rules

The government has repeated that cannabis flower is classified as a "controlled herb", requiring licences for commercial research, export, sale and processing, while public sales are limited to people with valid medical prescriptions.

The measures, outlined by deputy government spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan on Friday, July 17, 2026, form part of the Ministry of Public Health Notification on Controlled Herbs (Cannabis) 2025.

Cannabis flower can be prescribed for medical purposes by a physician, Thai traditional medical practitioner, folk healer, pharmacist or dentist. Each prescription can cover no more than 30 days.

Prescription-only sales

Under Section 46, anyone intending to research, export, sell or process cannabis flower commercially must obtain a licence.

Sales to the general public are permitted only where the buyer has a prescription from a qualified practitioner. Retailers that secretly sell flowers to people without a doctor's prescription may face prosecution.

Smoking cannabis flower on business premises is prohibited, except when it is part of treatment provided by a qualified practitioner. The regulations also ban sales through vending machines, electronic channels and computer networks, as well as advertising through any channel.

Those who illegally sell, process or export cannabis flower can be prosecuted under Section 78 of the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Wisdom Act 1999. The maximum penalty is one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to THB20,000, or both.

What travellers need to know

For foreign residents and visitors, the most important point is that cannabis flower cannot simply be treated as an ordinary tourist purchase. Buyers should ensure any flower is obtained in line with the prescription requirement, while businesses catering to tourists must comply with the new sales and advertising restrictions.

Travellers should also be particularly careful not to carry cannabis out of Thailand. Ploythalay said that, although Thailand has laws governing cannabis for medical and health purposes, some countries still classify it as a serious narcotic drug.

The government urged the public and travellers to follow the laws of destination countries, whether they are aware of those rules or not. This includes avoiding carrying cannabis in luggage, across land borders or on onward flights.

Smuggling cannabis out of Thailand without customs formalities, or attempting to evade inspection, carries a far heavier penalty: up to 10 years in prison, a fine equal to four times the value of the goods including duty, or both.

Reporting suspected breaches

Members of the public can report suspected illegal cannabis flower sales, or gatherings involving narcotics that cause a public nuisance, to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board hotline on 1386. The line operates 24 hours a day.

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18 July 2026