UK Foreign Office warns Brits in Thailand as new cannabis law rolls out
Laws around cannabis in Thailand have changed recently and it’s vital those visiting are aware.
Back in 2022, Thailand decriminalized cannabis, and products with less the 0.2 percent THC were allowed for general use. However, fast forward to 2025 and the country made a drastic u-turn, recriminalizing the drug and restricting it exclusively to medical purposes.
And therefore, over 7,000 cannabis shops ended up closing down.
Many Brits flock to Thai cities and islands every year to travel, with plenty hitting up party hotspots.
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But the country the BBC dubbed a 'weed wonderland' in 2023 could now hit cannabis users with up to one year in prison or a 20,000 baht (£460) fine for minor possession.
As the new laws roll out, the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) updated its safety advice today (9 February) on the status of cannabis as it issued warnings.
Thailand’s new framework bids to prevent the misuse of the drug and ensure it's used solely for health purposes, with access now requiring an authorised prescription limited to a 30-day supply.
This is reiterated by the FCDO as it explains you need the Thai-issued medical prescription to buy, possess or use cannabis and doubles down: “Recreational use remains illegal.”
The British government also goes on to warn against carrying ‘cannabis out of Thailand’.
“Cannabis of any strength may be illegal in other countries you travel to,” it explains.
This is something the office is warning heavily against, with criminal gangs being known to pressure people into carrying drugs.
Last year, 24-year-old British mum Cameron Bradford was arrested after unknowingly trafficking 20kg of cannabis from Thailand into Germany, but was spared jail after a judge accepted she was threatened and didn't know what was in her suitcase.
“Always pack your own luggage and do not carry anything through customs for someone else. British nationals have been caught carrying cannabis out of Thailand,” the FCDO advises.
“Many international airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, which may be used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers,” it warns.
And it goes on to say that those who are caught carrying cannabis in other countries may be given a long prison sentence or in some circumstances, the death penalty.
If Brits are found to be breaking the laws abroad, these kinds of legal processes can be pretty lengthy and expensive.
The FCDO adds: “In some countries, you can be arrested if you have traces of cannabis on your clothing, baggage or within you. Random blood and urine tests can be taken to see if it is within you.
“It is illegal to take cannabis out of Thailand without the appropriate export permissions issued by the authorities. Illegally carrying cannabis, particularly large quantities, can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment in Thailand.”
The key thing to know here is that while cannabis products may have been legal during previous trips to the country, you must now have a Thai-issued medical prescription to possess, use or buy it.
Jess Battison