Everything You Need to Know to Stay Compliant in Thai Cannabis
Thailand's cannabis landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation as of June 27, 2025, shifting from decriminalized recreational use to a strict medical-only framework. This change introduces licensing and reporting requirements across five critical PorThor ภ.ท. documents that cannabis business owners must understand and implement to remain compliant.
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) now oversees cannabis regulations, requiring businesses to navigate documentation, certification processes, and prescription systems. Of the roughly 8,600 dispensary licenses that expired in 2025, only about 15.5% (~1,339) were renewed — meaning some 7,300 shops did not continue, leaving an estimated 11,000 cannabis establishments still operating. Understanding these compliance requirements is essential for business survival.
At the center of this transition are the key PorThor documents: PT11 for licensing, PT27-29 for monthly reporting, and PT33 for medical prescriptions.
- PT11 is the license to sell or process cannabis — not a monthly report.
- PT27, 28 & 29 are the monthly reports every licensed business must file (even with zero sales).
- PT33 is the doctor-issued prescription required for every legal sale since 27 June 2025.
- Hard limits: 30 g per patient / month, buyers aged 20+, one dispensary per prescription.
The Backbone of Thai Cannabis Compliance: PorThor Forms
PorThor ภ.ท.11: License to Sell or Process Cannabis for Trade
PorThor ภ.ท.11 is the controlled-herb license for businesses that sell... It is not a monthly report like PT27, PT28, or PT29. Think of PT11 as the permission layer: if a shop, factory, or processor is commercially selling or processing controlled cannabis flower, PT11 is the license that should be checked before the monthly reporting system.
Key Requirements — Required for commercial sale or processing of controlled cannabis flower. Relevant for dispensaries, processors, and factories handling cannabis flower for trade. Applied for through Herbctrl/DTAM or the appropriate provincial public health channel. Site, license, and operating details may be checked by officials.
Why It Matters — PT11 answers whether the business is allowed to sell or process controlled cannabis flower. PT27, PT28, and PT29 then document what the licensed business bought, used, distributed, or processed each month.
PorThor ภ.ท.27: Monthly Purchase Declarations
This form must be self-reported monthly by dispensaries to declare...
Key Requirements — Mandatory monthly submission to DTAM. Must show source of cannabis during DTAM inspections. Both dispensary and grower face punishment if form is missing or grower lacks GACP certification. Required for all cannabis export operations.
Why It Matters — PorThor ภ.ท.27 verifies that all cannabis sold at dispensaries originates fro...
PorThor ภ.ท.28: Monthly Usage and Distribution Reports
This form is submitted monthly by both dispensaries and growers to declare the usage and distribution of cannabis flowers. It covers sales to patients, donations, and any other form of flower disbursement.
Key Requirements — Monthly reporting of all cannabis usage and distribution activity. Required for both retail and cultivation operations. Tracks cannabis flower allocations for traceability. Mandatory monthly submission to DTAM.
Why It Matters — PorThor ภ.ท.28 creates a legal record of all cannabis movement...
PorThor ภ.ท.29: Processing and Transformation Reports
PorThor ภ.ท.29 must be submitted by any licensed entity that transforms cannabis flowers into other forms—such as oils, edibles, extracts, or cosmetics.
Key Requirements — Required for dispensaries, processors, and cultivators engaged in cannabis manufacturing. Monthly submission of processing date, method, input quantity, output form/volume, and purpose (e.g. sale or R&D). Mandatory filing via DTAM's herbctrl portal. Why It Matters: This form ensures that every gram transformed is accounted for under DTAM’s national tracking system. Omission may lead to suspension under Section 52 of the Traditional Thai Medicine Act.
PorThor ภ.ท.33: Medical Prescriptions
This form is issued by medical practitioners and includes prescription details like diagnosis, dosage, and quantity. It is not generated by dispensaries and is valid only for one designated store.
Key Requirements — Issued only by authorized medical professionals. Must include practitioner's license number and full patient details (ID/passport, age, diagnosis, dosage). 30-day supply limitation. Valid at one dispensary only. Prescription fees may be arranging from 100–600 baht during transition period. Dispensaries must keep the original, wet-signed copy of a prescription. Effective June 27, 2025, this form is required for all legal cannabis purchases in Thailand.
Why It Matters — PorThor ภ.ท.33 is the legal foundation for medical cannabis access...
“Of ~8,600 dispensary licenses that expired in 2025, only about 15.5% (~1,339) were renewed.”
Compliance by Stakeholder Group
For Dispensaries / Retailers
New Operating Requirements — Hold an active PorThor 11 license for selling or processing controlled cannabis flower for trade. Sell cannabis only with valid PorThor 33 prescriptions. Employ licensed medical professionals on-site. File PorThor 27, 28, 29 and accept PorThor 33s monthly.
Documentation — Source only from GACP-certified growers. File monthly sales/inventory reports. Retain prescription copies for DTAM review.
Restrictions — No sales to under-20s, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Max 30g per patient/month. Penalties: Up to 1 year jail or 20,000 THB fine.
For Farms / Cultivators
Certification — Must be GACP-certified by Thai FDA. One-month approval process including lab tests.
Quality Standards — Soil and water safety. THC testing and contamination monitoring.
Reporting Obligations — Submit PorThor 27 (sales) and 28 (usage) monthly. Maintain sales traceability logs.
For Medical Professionals
- Medical doctors
- Traditional Thai medicine doctors
- Applied TTM practitioners
- Dentists, pharmacists, Chinese med practitioners
- Registered folk healers
PorThor 33 Rules — Must log complete patient info, dosage, diagnosis, and license number. 30-day validity. Only one dispensary per prescription. Approved Medical Uses: chronic pain, spasms, cramps, joint pain, stiffness, cancer, nausea, Parkinson’s, seizures, asthma, insomnia, anxiety, Alzheimer’s, Depression, appetite loss. Approved conditions vary by practitioner type and the governing DTAM notification — confirm current eligibility with DTAM.
Professional Standards — Fee range: 100–600 baht. Must respect patient privacy under Thailand's PDPA (Personal Data Protection Act). Continuing education required.
For Patients / Consumers
Legal Requirements — Must be 20+ and hold valid PorThor 33. Pregnant and breastfeeding women prohibited. One prescription per month, per dispensary. Must present prescription at point of sale.
Restrictions — No smoking in public areas. On-site smoking allowed only if clinic license and doctor are present. Maximum 30g per patient per month, tied to the prescription.
Penalties — Potential 20,000 baht fine for unprescribed use. Public smoking is a separate offense under the Public Health Act: up to 3 months imprisonment and a fine up to 25,000 baht.
Key Compliance Deadlines & Processes
Monthly:
Submit PorThor 27, 28, and 29 by end of each month. File 'no activity' report if no sales were made. Reconcile inventory and logs.
License Renewals:
~8,600 dispensary licenses expired in 2025; only ~15.5% were renewed. Sales/export licenses renew every 3 years. DTAM can reject renewals for past violations.
Prescription Management:
30-day validity. Monthly patient re-evaluation required. One clinic = one prescription = one dispensary.
How to Comply: Reporting Steps & Portal Access
How to Register for the Portal
Unlike public systems, there is no self-registration. You must request credentials from the appropriate health office based on your license type.
For provincial licenses (issued by สำนักงานสาธารณสุขจังหวัด - PHO):
Contact your Provincial Public Health Office and ask for a “herbctrl cannabis reporting account.”
Provide — Your license number. Business name. ID or passport of the license holder. Contact information. They will email you a username and password. For centrally issued licenses (by DTAM in Nonthaburi):
Email or call the Department directly — Email: [email protected]. Phone: 02-591-7007 ext. 1124. Address: 88/23 Tiwanon Rd., Talat Khwan, Nonthaburi 11000.
How to Submit Monthly Reports
Login at https://herbctrl.dtam.moph.go.th/report_formLogin.php
Select the correct monthly report (PorThor 27, 28, or 29). Use the PT11 licensing flow separately if you are applying to sell or process controlled cannabis flower for trade
Fill out each section (or choose “ไม่มีรายการ” for zero activity)
Upload the signed file or complete the digital form
Submit and download your confirmation slip
Important Tips — Use the same login for all monthly forms. Keep copies of receipts and ID scans for sales—they may be audited. Submit between the 25th–31st of each month to avoid last-minute issues. Zero reports are still mandatory. Never falsify data—the penalties are severe.
- Confirm PorThor 11 = Active license to sell or process controlled cannabis flower for trade
- Submit PorThor 27 = Monthly purchase declaration (cannabis bought from GACP growers)
- Submit PorThor 28 = Monthly usage & distribution report (sales, donations) — file even with zero sales
- Submit PorThor 29 = Processing/transformation report (if applicable)
- Do it monthly via Herbctrl
- Register first through your Provincial, Central office or Online
- Stay compliant to avoid suspension or penalties
Essential Resources and Contacts
Official Government Resources — Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) Website: www.dtam.moph.go.th... Thai FDA Narcotics Control Division Email: [email protected] Phone: +66 2590 7346. Official Cannabis Updates Thai Government PR: thailand.prd.go.th.
Form Access and Applications — GACP Certification Applications. Submit through DTAM official channels. Required flower samples for laboratory testing. Processing time: approximately one month.
Professional Cannabis Prescription Services
Dispensaries must now transform into licensed medical facilities and employ or partner with authorized medical practitioners in order to legally issue and fulfill cannabis prescriptions under the new framework. Licensed clinic networks. Traditional medicine practitioners.
Find prescription services →Conclusion
Thailand's transition to medical-only cannabis requires immediate and comprehensive compliance with PorThor documentation requirements. The transformation of the remaining ~11,000 operating dispensaries into medical facilities represents the most significant regulatory shift in Thailand's cannabis history.
Business owners must prioritize obtaining GACP certification, implementing proper PorThor reporting systems, and ensuring prescription-only sales models. With penalties including business closure and criminal prosecution for non-compliance, the cost of regulatory violations far exceeds the investment in proper compliance infrastructure.
Success in Thailand's new cannabis environment requires proactive legal guidance, continuous regulatory monitoring, and strict adherence to all DTAM requirements. The businesses that adapt quickly to these medical-focused regulations will be positioned to thrive in Thailand's evolving cannabis marketplace.
In short to survive and thrive — Keep PorThor 11 active if you sell or process controlled cannabis flower for trade. Buy and sell GACP certified flowers. Submit PorThor 27, 28, and 29 every month although you didn't sell anything. Don't sell or buy without PorThor 33 prescription. Transition into clinic-integrated operations (if you can). The businesses that adapt first will be the ones positioned to lead Thailand’s next chapter in legal cannabis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for the practical compliance questions readers usually check after the main guide.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for the practical compliance questions readers usually check after the main guide.
