Thailand is not the open cannabis market it was in 2022, and its rules are still moving. As of November 2026, cannabis flower can be bought only on a prescription for medical use, extracts with more than 0.2% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound that causes a high) are narcotics, and a new law to tighten the rules has been approved in draft. Bringing cannabis or hemp products into Thailand is not allowed under Thai FDA guidance, and taking cannabis out is illegal.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Thai rules are changing, so check the official sources in the footnotes close to your travel date.
How have Thailand’s cannabis laws changed?
- 2022: Thailand removed cannabis from its list of Category 5 narcotics, except extracts containing more than 0.2% THC by weight, according to a Thai law firm’s summary of the government announcement.1
- June 2025: a Ministry of Public Health notification made cannabis flower a “controlled herb”. Sales are allowed only to buyers with a prescription from a licensed practitioner, for no more than 30 days’ use, and sales online, by vending machine and through advertising are banned, according to a Thai news agency report.2 We could not open the Royal Gazette text itself.
- September 2026: Cabinet approved a draft Cannabis and Hemp Act to limit cannabis to medical use and phase out the recreational market, with tougher penalties planned, according to a report by Malaysia’s national news agency.3 As far as we could confirm, it had not become law by 13 November 2026.
Smartraveller summarises the current position: “The use of cannabis is limited to medicinal purposes only and can’t be used in public. The content of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) must be below 0.2% in weight and you must have a prescription from a Thai recognised practitioner. It’s illegal to carry cannabis out of Thailand.”4
Is CBD legal in Thailand?
Cannabis extracts with more than 0.2% THC remain a Category 5 narcotic.1 That suggests a locally made CBD extract with 0.2% THC or less is not a narcotic, but the law firm summary says the exemption for plant material applies to cannabis “harvested in Thailand”.1 We could not confirm from an official page whether imported CBD extract gets the same treatment.
Many full-spectrum products would exceed 0.2% THC. See full spectrum vs broad spectrum vs isolate.
Can you bring CBD into Thailand?
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) says, in its guidance for travellers bringing health products:5
- “The importation of cannabis-based or hemp-based foods is not allowed.”
- Cosmetics containing cannabis extract or hemp are not allowed.
- “Do not import herbal products containing cannabis or hemp.”
For medicines generally, the Thai FDA allows the amount needed for up to 30 days’ personal use. Some controlled medicines need a doctor’s certificate or prescription, longer supplies need a permit applied for at least 15 days ahead, and narcotics must be licensed by the FDA’s Narcotics Division before import.5 We could not confirm any permit route for a traveller to bring prescribed CBD or other cannabis medicine into Thailand.
A Royal Thai Embassy says that bringing cannabis or hemp in without a licence can lead to fines or imprisonment under Thailand’s Customs Act.6
Can you take cannabis out of Thailand?
No. Smartraveller says it is illegal to carry cannabis out of Thailand.4 In October 2026, a Thai newspaper reported that Customs had arrested 40 departing passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport in the first 24 days of the month for trying to take cannabis flowers out without authorisation.7
Australia’s rules apply when you land. CBD bought from a Thai shop is not covered by the traveller’s exemption, which requires a prescription from a medical practitioner and dispensing by a pharmacist. See travelling with CBD and what happens if customs seizes your CBD.
What are the penalties?
Smartraveller warns: “Penalties for drug offences are severe. They include the death penalty. Possession of even small quantities of drugs for recreational purposes can lead to long jail sentences and deportation.”4 It also notes that authorities can demand urine samples from people suspected of taking illegal drugs, and that it is illegal to use cannabis in public places.4
What is the safest approach?
- Assume the rules have changed since you last read about them. Check Smartraveller’s Thailand page and the Thai FDA close to your travel date.
- Do not bring cannabis or hemp products into Thailand, and do not carry any out.
- If you take a prescribed medicine, ask the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra or the Thai FDA whether it is allowed and whether you need a permit.
For other countries, see CBD laws overseas.
Footnotes
-
Tilleke and Gibbins (secondary source, law firm). Marijuana, hemp and kratom in Thailand: the current legal paradigm and its complexity, 24 February 2022. https://www.tilleke.com/insights/marijuana-hemp-and-kratom-in-thailand-the-current-legal-paradigm-and-its-complexity ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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InfoQuest (secondary source, Thai news agency). Report on the Ministry of Public Health notification on controlled herbs (cannabis) B.E. 2568 (Thai), 25 June 2025. https://www.infoquest.co.th/?p=507500 ↩
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Bernama (secondary source, Malaysian national news agency). Report on Thailand’s draft Cannabis and Hemp Act, 22 October 2026. https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2624235 ↩
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Smartraveller (DFAT). Thailand travel advice, updated 26 October 2026. https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/thailand ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
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Thai Food and Drug Administration. Bringing of health products into Thailand, last updated 4 October 2024. https://en.fda.moph.go.th/import-inspection-service/bringing-of-health-products-02 ↩ ↩2
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Royal Thai Embassy, Brussels. Bringing cannabis to Thailand, updated 14 March 2024. https://brussels.thaiembassy.org/en/page/bringing-cannabis-to-thailand ↩
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The Nation Thailand (secondary source). Report on Customs arrests of departing passengers carrying cannabis, 26 October 2026. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40072731 ↩
Common questions
Is CBD legal in Thailand?
The position is complicated and changing. Cannabis extracts with more than 0.2% THC are narcotics, cannabis flower is sold only on prescription for medical use, and Cabinet has approved a draft law to tighten the rules further. Bringing cannabis or hemp products into Thailand is not allowed under Thai FDA guidance.
Can I bring CBD oil into Thailand?
Thailand's Food and Drug Administration says imports of cannabis-based or hemp-based foods, cosmetics containing cannabis or hemp, and herbal products containing them are not allowed. We could not confirm any permit route for a traveller to bring prescribed CBD. Check with the Thai FDA or the Royal Thai Embassy before travelling.
Can I bring CBD home from Thailand?
No. Thai law makes it illegal to take cannabis out of Thailand, and Australia's traveller's exemption covers only cannabis medicine prescribed by a medical practitioner and dispensed by a pharmacist. A product bought from a Thai shop does not meet that test.
This page is general information, not medical or legal advice. Laws and evidence change; we show the date we last checked the facts at the top of every page. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
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