Thai FDA Cannabis Rules Explained

Thailand regulates cannabis through more than one agency, and the single most important number to understand is 0.2% THC. Products at or below that threshold are handled as food, cosmetics, or herbal products and can be sold without a prescription. Anything above it is treated far more strictly. This guide explains how the Thai FDA (สำนักงานคณะกรรมการอาหารและยา, “อย.”) fits into that system, what the labeling and registration rules require, and which body oversees which part of the framework.

This is general information, not legal or medical advice. The specific FDA notifications that govern cannabis and CBD change over time, so confirm current numbers with the Thai FDA or a licensed Thai professional before acting.

The 0.2% THC Line

The 0.2% THC threshold is the dividing line for every cannabis- or hemp-derived product in Thailand.

• Below 0.2% THC — CBD and hemp products containing less than 0.2% THC by weight are legal without a prescription. They are sold at pharmacies, wellness shops, some convenience stores, and online, and are regulated as food or supplements, cosmetics, or herbal products depending on the product.
• Above 0.2% THC — Extracts and products above 0.2% THC remain Category 5 narcotics under the Narcotics Code. These require special licenses and are limited to a narrow set of permitted uses (see the extract regulation below).

The key point: at or below 0.2% THC, a product’s legality depends on the rules of its category (food, cosmetic, or herbal product), not on THC content alone. THC must simply not exceed the 0.2% ceiling.

The Flower Track Is Separate

It is easy to conflate the 0.2% extract line with cannabis flower. They are two different tracks.

Cannabis flower (inflorescence) has been a “controlled herb” since 26 June 2025 under the Protection and Promotion of Thai Traditional Medicine Knowledge Act B.E. 2542, administered by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM). Buying flower legally requires a PT 33 prescription from an authorized practitioner. This is not the FDA herbal-products route and not the Category 5 extract route.

Who Regulates What

Three bodies share oversight. Knowing which one governs a given product tells you which rules apply.

For the practitioner side of the flower track, see who can legally prescribe cannabis in Thailand. For the business licensing angle, see the business hub.

Registration and Labeling

For products that fall under the Thai FDA, registration and labeling are where compliance is won or lost.

• Registration by category. CBD products must be registered and compliant in their category — food or supplement, cosmetic, or herbal product. Each category has its own registration pathway and its own rules.
• THC ceiling. Regardless of category, THC must not exceed 0.2%. A product that crosses that line moves into the Category 5 narcotics track and can no longer be sold as an ordinary consumer product.
• Labeling. Labels must comply with the requirements of the relevant category. Legality depends on meeting those category rules, not on THC content alone.
• Import. Import of CBD is separately and tightly controlled. Selling a compliant product domestically and importing it are governed by different permissions.

Because the exact FDA notification numbers change, treat any specific figure or form reference as something to verify with the FDA at the time you need it.

The 2026 Extract Regulation

For anything above the 0.2% line, the governing instrument is the 2026 extract regulation.

The Ministerial Regulation on Category 5 narcotics (cannabis and hemp plant extracts) B.E. 2569 was published in the Royal Gazette on 26 March 2026 and took effect on 26 April 2026, replacing the 2021 extract regulation. Its main points:

• Four permitted purposes only for extracts above 0.2% THC: (1) medical, (2) research, analysis, or education, (3) industrial, and (4) official narcotics-suppression activity.
• Foreign ownership excluded from medical-purpose extract production — a producer must be a Thai juristic person that is not a foreign business.
• Transition — licenses issued under the 2020/2021 framework remain valid only until 31 December 2026, and renewal requires full re-qualification, not an automatic rollover.

What This Means in Practice

• If you sell CBD below 0.2% THC, your obligations are FDA category registration and correct labeling for food, cosmetics, or herbal products.
• If you handle extracts above 0.2% THC, you are in the Category 5 narcotics system and need the appropriate license for one of the four permitted purposes.
• If you dispense cannabis flower, you are on the controlled-herb track under DTAM, and every sale needs a PT 33. See what a legal cannabis clinic must have.

Key Takeaways

• 0.2% THC is the line. At or below it, category rules (food, cosmetic, herbal) apply; above it, Category 5 narcotics rules apply.
• Cannabis flower is a separate, DTAM-run controlled-herb track requiring a PT 33 — do not confuse it with the extract line.
• Three bodies share oversight: the Thai FDA (herbal products and registration), FDA Narcotics Control (extracts), and DTAM (flower).
• Register and label by category, keep THC at or below 0.2%, and remember that CBD import is controlled separately.
• Verify current FDA notification numbers before relying on specifics — they change.

For the broader legal picture, visit the legal hub and the medical cannabis guide.