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Thailand Cannabis Crackdown: 533 Phuket Shops Found Operating Without Valid Permits
A joint enforcement operation in Phuket has found that 533 cannabis dispensaries had failed to renew their operating licences, with a further 12 businesses facing permit suspensions. Announced on July 19, 2026 by Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Lucksameesaengchan, the crackdown signals that Thai authorities are taking a harder line on compliance in tourist areas, and has direct implications for anyone hoping to buy cannabis while visiting Thailand.
What the Inspection Found
Provincial administrators, police, and public health officials conducted the sweep together. Of the dispensaries checked, 533 had let their licences lapse without renewal, and 12 more had their permits actively suspended. Authorities are now investigating whether any of those 533 shops continued selling after their permits expired, which would add further legal exposure on top of the licence violations.
How Cannabis Actually Works Legally in Thailand
Cannabis remains legal in Thailand, but it is restricted to medical use. To purchase cannabis flowers from a dispensary, a customer must present a valid medical certificate or prescription issued by an authorised healthcare professional. Walk-in recreational purchases are not permitted at any compliant shop.
Licensed dispensaries are also required to have qualified medical personnel on-site, or operate in partnership with a licensed doctor or clinic. Exactly what staffing is needed depends on the type of licence held.
What This Means If You're Visiting
If you were planning to visit a dispensary as a tourist, the picture has changed significantly. Without a medical certificate or prescription, you cannot legally buy cannabis flowers at a compliant shop. Shops that do sell without checking your paperwork are likely operating outside the rules, and buying from an unlicensed or suspended dispensary carries legal risk for the customer too.
Shops found in violation face licence suspension of 30 to 90 days, plus potential further legal action. The spokesperson framed the campaign as an effort to "improve public safety, protect consumers and strengthen confidence in Thailand's tourism industry."
Phuket is specifically named in this enforcement action, and tourist-area dispensaries are under heightened scrutiny. If you are travelling elsewhere in Thailand, the same national rules apply even if local enforcement varies.
Information sourced from The Thaiger.