Cannabis in Surat Thani

Surat Thani province takes in the mainland city of the same name and the Gulf islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, which filled with cannabis shops during Thailand's open-sale period, from Samui's resort strips to Haad Rin, the Full Moon Party beach on Phangan. The province has no cannabis rules of its own. Since June 26, 2025 cannabis flower has been a controlled herb under national law, and licensed outlets may sell it only against a PT33 prescription from a recognized practitioner, valid for up to 30 days.

For island visitors that means a short consultation, a passport check and a written prescription before any flower changes hands. Buying for recreation is illegal. Sales to anyone under 20 or to pregnant or breastfeeding women are banned, shops may not let customers consume on the premises, and smoking in public can be prosecuted as a nuisance. Licences issued or renewed since May 1, 2026 are tied to premises that already hold a hospital, pharmacy, herbal-product or folk-healer licence, with trained staff present, so shops that cannot convert close as their licences lapse.

More change is coming. On September 22, 2026 the cabinet approved a draft Cannabis Control Act that would keep cannabis medical-only, ban sales near schools, temples and parks and require shops to operate as medical facilities to renew; it still has to pass parliament. Two practical points apply on the islands now: an online shop listing is not a licence check, and carrying cannabis into or out of Thailand is treated as drug trafficking, whatever the airport.