Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Thailand law
Cannabis laws in Phuket Island 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
Phuket police had a reputation for corruption. Possession, smoking in public or getting turned in could lead to serious trouble, and ฿20,000 was one figure quoted for a bribe. A second bit of advice was simpler. Stay well clear, be polite and smile.
Where to Buy Marijuana
The jet-ski and parasailing crews on Patong Beach were the usual contacts. On Soi Eric in Patong, the reggae beer bar was another familiar tip. A warning about Patong Bay came with it. If a little bundle came in layers of plastic melted shut at the edges, there was a fair chance it wasn’t even weed. Younger beach workers, taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers also came up. Renting a cab for several hours was one approach people tried.
Marijuana Prices
- ฿300 for 1.5 g of Thai stick, with an informal potency estimate of 6–12% THC
- ฿300–500 for about 5 g of Thai stick in two separate Patong beach deals
- ฿1,000 for about 2 g of brick weed in one house deal (about US$20 at the time)
- ฿1,000 for 5–7 g of seedless compressed outdoor sativa, or 10 g in a separate deal
- ฿3,000 for 4–5 g of poor brick weed, a steep price even if you were starved for bud
Types of Marijuana
Thai stick was the usual smoke. There was also low-grade hash, occasional Nepalese Temple Balls and some very good seedless outdoor Thai ganja. One ฿1,000 deal for compressed sativa said to come from northern Thailand came with a pack of Rizla Blues. A 3 g spliff shared with the guys who supplied it brought a very strong high and compliments on the rolling.
More Information
After hearing bad things about drugs in Southeast Asia, the expectation was a dry trip. Then a chat with street vendors in Phuket turned into a scooter ride to a run-down neighbourhood. The smell hit at the door. Inside, three people sat on the floor passing around a massive bamboo bong. The welcome was warm, the bong came round and someone emptied a cigarette to roll a little secret agent as a gift. The brick weed they offered afterwards was another story. About 2 g for ฿1,000.
The next day went better. A jet-ski renter called another guy and came back with roughly 5 g of Thai stick for ฿300, reckoned at about six euros or dollars at the time. It tasted great. A different jet-ski renter later took the visitor home and had another 5 g for ฿500. Hard to complain about that.