Thailand Cannabis Rule Changes in 2026, Month by Month
Quick answer: what changed in Thailand’s cannabis rules in 2026?
Three changes stand out, and each has a date and a source. On 30 April 2026 the Royal Gazette published Ministerial Regulation (No. 2) B.E. 2569, which adds licensing criteria for flower licenses. On 22 September 2026 the cabinet approved a draft Cannabis and Hemp Act, which is not law yet. On 6 November 2026 the government announced stepped-up enforcement. The ministry notification of June 2025 is still the base text. This page is current as of 11 November 2026, covers only what we could confirm, and is general information, not legal advice.
What was the starting point before 2026?
The base text is the Ministry of Public Health notification on controlled herbs (cannabis) B.E. 2568, published in the Royal Gazette on 25 June 2025 (Volume 142, Special Part 229 Ngor, pages 8 and 9) and in force from the following day. It repealed the 2022 notice of 11 November 2022. Two points from it matter for everything below.
First, only the flower, the inflorescence, is the controlled herb. Second, commercial sale needs a section 46 license plus conditions. Those conditions include records and reports, supply from GACP-certified sources, no sale at temples, dormitories or public parks, no sale through vending machines or online channels, and no sale for smoking on the premises. Item 4(7) also bans advertising of the controlled herb in every channel for commercial purposes: ห้ามโฆษณาสมุนไพรควบคุมในทุกช่องทางเพื่อการค้า. Our earlier write-up of that period is in July 2025: Thailand’s New Cannabis Regulations. The source is the Royal Gazette notification.
What happened in April 2026?
On 29 April 2026 the Ministry of Public Health signed Ministerial Regulation (No. 2) B.E. 2569, and it appeared in the Royal Gazette on 30 April 2026 (Volume 143, Part 28 Ka, pages 1 to 4). It amends the 2016 regulation on licenses to research, export, sell and process controlled herbs for trade. The Gazette text adds a new item 8/1 for flower licenses. When the authority grants or renews a flower license, it now also considers whether:
- the applicant owns or has the right to use the premises, or attaches the owner’s consent;
- the storage space is suitable, separate from other goods and off the floor;
- the applicant holds at least one qualifying license from a list that includes a healthcare facility, herbal product, drug or extract license or a folk healer certificate, or runs a cultivation site that supplies licensees;
- at least one staff member trained by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) is on the premises whenever it is open.
A separate change in the same regulation requires flower licensees to have an effective odor removal system. Two transition rules apply: flower licenses issued under the 2016 regulation stay valid until they expire, and renewals follow the new criteria. A license held by someone previously suspended for breaching the controlled-herb notice is a case where the authority is to consider not renewing the license. The regulation’s stated aim is that flower use serves medical purposes only.
What happened in September 2026?
On 22 September 2026 the cabinet approved a draft cannabis control bill, and the next stop is the House of Representatives, according to The Nation on 23 September 2026. The Star’s November report, linked below, calls it the draft Cannabis and Hemp Act. A draft approved by the cabinet is not a law in force. As of 11 November 2026 we found no Cannabis Act in force, so the ministerial texts above remain the binding rules. We have not summarized the draft’s contents here because we have not confirmed a final text.
What happened in November 2026?
On 6 November 2026 a deputy government spokesperson announced stepped-up enforcement against cannabis outlets that break the rules, as The Star reported on 7 November 2026. The statement lists violations that inspections had uncovered: sales without a prescription, smoking on business premises, promotional offers or commercial advertising, online sales and missing reports. It also says operators whose licenses were suspended before could face immediate revocation for a repeat of the same offense, subject to legal procedures. We read this as a signal about where inspectors are looking, not as a new rule. The report cites no new Gazette text.
What is not on this timeline, and why?
This is not a complete month-by-month log. It covers the flower rules and the cabinet’s approval of the draft Act only; earlier steps on the draft, and reported changes to other instruments such as the separate rules on extracts, are outside this page. We list a change only when we could tie it to a primary document or a dated news report, so a month with no entry means we have nothing confirmed to report within that scope, not that nothing happened. This page also does not cover the Act under which these texts are issued, or the Department’s separate notice on application forms. Check the Royal Gazette and the DTAM site before relying on any date here.
What does this mean for visitors in Bangkok and Koh Samui?
Rules in this area move quickly, so we date every statement. In practice, a purchase in Thailand needs a valid medical-cannabis prescription from a licensed practitioner, and you should carry photo ID or your passport. For the background, see how Thailand got here.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Cannabis Act in force in Thailand?
As of 11 November 2026 we found none. The cabinet approved a draft cannabis control bill on 22 September 2026, and it still has to go through the House, per The Nation.
What is item 8/1?
Item 8/1 is a set of extra criteria in Ministerial Regulation (No. 2) B.E. 2569, published on 30 April 2026. It applies when flower licenses are granted or renewed. Licenses issued under the 2016 regulation remain valid until they expire.
Which part of cannabis is the controlled herb?
Under the 2025 notification, only the flower, the inflorescence, is the controlled herb.
Does the November 2026 announcement create new rules?
We read it as an enforcement announcement, not a new rule, and the report cites no new Gazette text. It says operators suspended before could face immediate revocation for a repeat offense, subject to legal procedures.
Where can I read the primary texts?
Both Gazette instruments are public. The 2025 notification and the 2026 regulation are on the Royal Gazette website.
General information only, current as of 2026-11-11. Sources: Royal Gazette, The Nation and The Star as linked. This is not legal advice.
Siam Green Co’s shop addresses and opening hours are on the locations page.