As early as 2022, Thailand quickly gained international attention for its relaxed views toward cannabis. Thousands of dispensaries sprouted up throughout the country, and travelers began making plans to visit based upon the availability of dispensaries.
However, by June of 2025, the situation had changed dramatically. Recreational cannabis was recriminalized, nearly 7,000 dispensaries were forced to close, and the legal guidelines were strictly enforced to allow only medical marijuana.
As such, for a traveler coming from the UK. And bringing CBD products in their checked baggage, it would be beneficial to know about these restrictions prior to your trip.
One key piece of information
It is unlawful to bring CBD products into Thailand from the United Kingdom.
Thai customs regulations will not differentiate between what is lawful in your home country versus what is lawful in Thailand. Purchasing a CBD gummy product in London legally is considered to be a cannabis derived product entering the borders of Thailand without the proper license issued through the Thai FDA -- thus classified as a drug trafficking offense.
Fines can reach 2 million THB (£45,000), sentences ranging from 5-20 years imprisonment, deportation, and a permanent ban from traveling to Thailand. Lack of awareness of local laws will not be considered as a defense by the courts in Thailand. Neither will foreign prescriptions (including prescriptions for medical cannabis in the uk) hold any weight in regards to customs regulations at the Thai border.
The change that occurred in June 2025
Knowing how events unfolded is important since much travel related information online was published while Thailand's rules were much more lenient.
- 2022: Thailand de-regulated cannabis; dispensaries opened nationwide; recreational use widespread
- 2024 - 2025: concerns arose regarding unregulated use, youth access, and drug tourism
- June 2025: cannabis officially became regulated again as a controlled substance; recreational use and sales prohibited; medical framework limited
- post-June 2025: over 7,000 dispensaries in Thailand that were previously allowed to sell cannabis shut down; remaining dispensaries converted to selling only medicinal cannabis.
- CBD products containing less than .02 percent THC are technically permissible for retail sale within Thailand under labeling requirements. The critical word here is “within” - Buying locally from a licensed pharmacy is an entirely different issue than importing.
Current laws as they apply today
| Situation | Legal? | Risk level |
| Bringing CBD from uk to thailand | No | Extremely high-criminal offense |
| Buying CBD in thailand from licensed pharmacy | Yes | Low-risk of product being registered with fda |
| Recreational use without prescription | No | High-fine up to 25kthb -imprisonment for up to three months |
| Medical use with thai prescription | Yes | Low-risk provided condition is one of five approved conditions |
| Using uk medical cannabis prescription | No | Will not be recognized -will be considered unlawful possession |
| Buying from street vendors or markets | No | Very-highly-risky-unverified products/illegal transaction |
Buy CBD when you are in Thailand
There are ways to obtain legal CBD products in Thailand from reputable sources. Therefore, if you need or wish to utilize CBD while you are there, purchasing locally is likely going to be the most logical course of action.
Where to purchase legally:
- licensed pharmacies - many contain fda registered CBD oils and supplements
- authorized dispensaries - those continuing to operate under valid medical licenses after June 2025
- Hospital and private clinic pharmacies - typically have best selection of authentic product
- certified health & wellness retailers - more common in major tourist cities
What to avoid:
- street stalls / night market sellers / any seller approaching you directly
- products significantly below prices at pharmacies
- any seller unable to show fda registration for product
Additional point for british travelers
Thailand has historically held one of the strongest stances in Asia concerning enforcing drug laws and re-criminalization further reinforces this position. Although the window of liberalization (2022-2025) did exist briefly, a significant amount of misinformation exists today due to outdated travel advisories written during that timeframe still existing online.
Since July 2024, the UK Border Force and Thai customs authority have conducted a collaborative effort targeting drug trafficking at Bangkok airport. During Operation Chaophraya alone over 50 British nationals were detained. The enforcement environment at Thai airports is both proactive and well-funded.
None of this indicates Thailand is not worth visiting. It simply suggests that you should consider CBD products as items you should leave at home when traveling. If you require CBD products purchase them upon arrival locally if possible.
If you are planning ahead or have already returned to the UK, Properloud offers a full range of cannabis products for when you are back on familiar ground and the rules are clear.
