Understanding Thailand's cannabis rules: what you can and cannot do

We’re all in high spirits! Thailand is now the first country in Asia to legalize marijuana and allow its personal use, cultivation and possession.

The path to the plant’s legalization in the country was long and fraught with controversy. In 2018, Thailand took the first step towards legalization, with authorities approving the use of cannabis exclusively for medical purposes. Since then, establishments across the country, from spas to alternative clinics, have become more interested in the many benefits of marijuana and used it for various wellness treatments like this one.

Then in early June 2022, cannabis enthusiasts across the kingdom rejoiced after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the removal of marijuana and hemp from its narcotics list. This modification marks Thailand as the very first nation in Asia to largely decriminalize the plant for industrial, medical and personal use.

Now, attention towards the plant is on the rise, with entrepreneurs opening up stores that sell marijuana and more people turning to it for multiple purposes.

But there are still dos and don’ts with regards to its use. Here’s a list.

What you can do:

• You can grow cannabis in your own home but you first have to register on the FDA’s official website.
• You can grow cannabis for commercial purposes and create a product with cannabis, but you also have to register your product on the FDA’s website.
• You can use cannabis for recreational purposes, but only within your residence and without annoying (e.g., smell) or disturbing people in surrounding areas.
• You can use cannabis for medical purposes and patients can possess cannabis in the amount equal to 30 days of use.

What you cannot do:

• You cannot use cannabis products that have more than 0.2 percent tetrahydrocannabinol or THC (the component in marijauna that produces the “high”) .
• You cannot use or smoke cannabis in public spaces, such as schools and shopping malls,  or in mass gatherings, because the smell could annoy other people.
• You cannot sell cannabis to people under 20 years old, pregnant women, women who are currently breastfeeding, and individuals who fall under a certain category as mandated by the state.
• You cannot bring cannabis in and out of Thailand by any means.

RECOMMENDED: Check in with how far the cannabis scene in Thailand has come since weed was "technically" legalized from this long-read story.