Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Thailand law
Cannabis laws in Koh Phangan follow Thailand’s national law. Local cities generally do not set separate marijuana rules, so penalties are determined at the jurisdiction level.
Recreational use of cannabis is illegal. Medical cannabis is permitted for specific conditions with a prescription. Unauthorized possession or use can result in legal penalties.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Available with prescription for limited conditions
- Possession: Illegal without medical authorization
- Buying/Selling: Restricted to licensed medical channels
- Tourists: Subject to the same laws with no exemptions
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative History
Thailand briefly decriminalized recreational cannabis in 2022, removing it from the narcotics list and allowing unregulated sales and personal cultivation. However, following public health concerns and a change in government policy, recreational use was re-criminalized in 2024–2025, restoring prohibitions on non-medical possession, sales, and public consumption while maintaining a regulated medical framework for prescription access.
Law Enforcement
Koh Phangan felt like Thailand’s party island. Weed was easy to find, but getting caught by the wrong cop could mean serious trouble. People talked about being asked for anything from ฿10,000 to ฿25,000.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Just northwest of Thong Sala is Wok Tum. I loved the Amst*rdam Bar there. Best sunset on the island, maybe the world. The Reggae Bar at Salad Beach was another spot I knew. Weed was around in Haad Rin too, but it cost more in the party town.
At the Full Moon Party beach, I went all the way to the left facing the water and climbed a long set of steps up the cliff to a small bar. People were smoking spliffs openly. They sold me a bag for ฿500, maybe five grams or more of commercial-grade pot.
Some guesthouse owners would find weed for people after a wait. One beach guesthouse I stayed at even lent guests bongs. I also heard the opposite story, about an owner tipping off police so they could search a room and demand payment.
Marijuana Prices
Packages of good Thai weed went for ฿500–1,000 and held about five to ten grams. I worried that some batches had been grown with a lot of chemicals.
More Information
Haad Rin was the expensive end. I rented a motorbike and found things got cheaper as I headed north.