What changed in Thailand for cannabis in 2025?

Thailand changed its cannabis rules in June 2025. According to a news report of 26 June 2025, cannabis flowers have since been treated as a controlled plant. According to the report, the rule prohibits advertising, general sale and recreational use. Anyone travelling to Thailand or living there should check the current legal position on the spot, because cannabis rules can change at short notice. Status of the source: news article of 26 June 2025.

What “controlled plant” means

The term describes a plant whose handling is regulated by the state. What is actually permitted follows from the individual provisions and not from the term alone. The difference between regulation and prohibition only becomes visible in the detail, that is, in who may grow, supply or possess.

What the rule prohibits according to the report

According to the report, the rule mainly concerns the flowers of the plant. Advertising cannabis for commercial purposes is said to be prohibited on all platforms. General sale and recreational use are also forbidden. Anyone who wants to buy cannabis, share advertising or consume it in Thailand should read the rule in its exact wording beforehand.

The report comes from a news source. The authoritative text is the one in the official gazette. It contains the exact terms, exceptions and responsibilities that a media report can only summarise.

Why the wording of the law matters

A news report does not show on which legal basis the classification rests or which exceptions apply. Anyone who wants to understand the background should look for the official publication in its original form. The international framework also helps with classification. The article What do the UN drug conventions say about cannabis? explains why states can treat cannabis differently at national level.

The comparison with Germany

In Germany, the Consumer Cannabis Act regulates the handling of cannabis. Adults aged 18 and over may possess up to 25 grams of cannabis, and up to 50 grams at their place of residence. Home cultivation of up to three plants at the same time is permitted. The report on Thailand describes, by contrast, a prohibition of recreational use. The comparison shows how differently states deal with the same plant.

What a news report can leave out

Media reports often summarise rules in a single sentence. Exceptions, transitional periods and responsibilities easily drop out. Anyone relying on a summary quickly overlooks that a rule applies only to certain people, quantities or places. For every report, it is therefore worth asking which source lies behind it and whether it quotes the wording.

Why the classification of a substance matters

Classifying a plant as controlled means the state sets how it may be handled. For travellers, the decisive question is whether possession, consumption or passing on is permitted. The wording of the provision answers these questions, not the term alone. Anyone who confuses the terms easily assumes a permission that does not apply in the individual case.

The headline is only the start. Behind a regulation there are often ordinances, implementing rules and responsibilities that do not appear in a report. Anyone who wants to inform themselves properly therefore looks for the text of the law first. Media commentary can supplement it.

Terms explained briefly

• Controlled plant: a plant whose cultivation, trade and use are regulated by law.
• Recreational use (Freizeitkonsum): use without a medical purpose, in everyday life or during leisure time.
• Official gazette (Gesetzblatt): the official publication in which laws and ordinances are announced.

Cannabis in Germany and Thailand compared

The comparison shows two different approaches. Germany permits certain quantities for adults and home cultivation within narrow limits. According to the report, Thailand classifies the flowers as a controlled plant and prohibits advertising, general sale and recreational use. For a trip, the rule of the destination country counts, not the rule of the home country.

The possession of 25 grams that the German Consumer Cannabis Act allows for adults from 18 has no validity abroad. Anyone who takes cannabis into a country where it is prohibited must reckon with investigations under the law of that country, even if possession is permitted in Germany. Taking cannabis across the German border is also prohibited: importing, exporting and transit are offences under the KCanG (§ 2(1) Nos. 5 and 6 and § 34(1) Nos. 5 and 6 KCanG).

Health and use on the road

Regardless of the law, the health risks apply. According to drugcom, a psychological dependence can develop with regular use. Early use can permanently impair cognitive performance. Anyone using cannabis on the road should therefore pay attention to quantity, surroundings and their own condition, and turn to a doctor if problems arise.

More on the risks is found in the drug lexicon of drugcom.de. The health effects for young people are explained in the article on the health effects overall.

What travellers and those interested can do

• Before travelling, ask the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) about the current position.
• Look for the original text in the official gazette and do not rely only on media reports.
• If problems arise on the spot, consult a lawyer experienced in dealing with foreign authorities straight away.

The German Consumer Cannabis Act applies only in Germany. The Thai rule applies only in Thailand. Anyone travelling internationally must know the rules of both countries before acting. An overview of countries with their own models is given in the article Which countries have legalised cannabis?.