Medical Cannabis
If you've spent any time researching cannabis in Thailand, you've seen three letters and two numbers repeated until they've lost all meaning: PT33. Or PorThor 33. Or ปท. 33 if you're reading Thai government documents, which I don't recommend unless you enjoy confusion as a hobby.
Here's what nobody seems willing to say in plain language: getting a PT33 prescription as a tourist in Bangkok is one of the simplest bureaucratic processes in Thailand. And if you've ever tried to extend a visa or open a Thai bank account, you know that's saying something.
I've watched hundreds of tourists go through this process across 650+ dispensary visits. The ones who stress about it beforehand always say the same thing afterward: "That's it? That was nothing." So let me walk you through exactly what happens, what it costs, and what you need to bring - which is basically just yourself and your passport.
PT33 (formally PorThor 33, or Prescription Form Number 33) is Thailand's official medical cannabis prescription document. Since June 2025, it's been required for every legal purchase of cannabis flower in Thailand. No PT33, no legal purchase.
It's not a "medical cannabis card" like you'd get in California or Michigan. Thailand doesn't have a card system. What it has is a prescription - a document issued by a licensed Thai medical practitioner that identifies you, states your medical reason for using cannabis, specifies what you can buy, and is valid for 30 days with a maximum of 30 grams.
Think of it less like applying for something and more like visiting a doctor. Because that's literally what it is.
Seven types of practitioners are authorized to issue PT33 prescriptions in Thailand. This isn't a single-door system - it's seven doors, and most tourists only need one:
Medical doctors (the most common route for tourists), traditional Thai medicine practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, Chinese medicine practitioners, applied traditional Thai medicine practitioners, and licensed folk healers.
For most visitors to Bangkok, the path is a medical doctor, usually one working on-site at a licensed dispensary or at a nearby clinic that partners with dispensaries. The system is specifically designed so you don't need to hunt for a separate clinic and then carry paperwork to a shop. Many dispensaries have collapsed the whole process into one location.
Your passport. That's the non-negotiable. The PT33 form requires legal identification, and for tourists, that means your passport. Not a photocopy, not a photo on your phone - the actual document.
A medical reason. The practitioner needs to determine that cannabis is clinically appropriate for your situation. The qualifying conditions are broad, but this is a real medical consultation, not a rubber stamp. Common qualifying conditions include chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, muscle spasms, joint pain, nausea (particularly related to other treatments), PTSD, and other conditions the practitioner deems appropriate.
If you have existing medical documentation - prescriptions from home, a diagnosis letter, anything that supports your reason - bring it. It's not required, but it streamlines the conversation.
You must be at least 20 years old. Not 18, not 21. The Thai legal age for cannabis is 20. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, cannabis is prohibited unless specifically authorized by a doctor.
Here's the process as I've seen it play out hundreds of times:
You walk into a licensed dispensary that offers medical consultations. Not every dispensary has an on-site doctor, but many do - particularly the established ones near BTS stations and in tourist-accessible areas. The shops on ThaiCannaMapped's Certified Bangkok list (our top-quality dispensary picks) are verified for exactly this.
You tell the staff you need a PT33 consultation. They'll direct you to the practitioner, either on-site or via a telemedicine setup. Some shops have a dedicated consultation room. Others use a video call with a doctor who works with multiple dispensaries.
The consultation takes 15-30 minutes. The practitioner will ask about your medical history, current medications, allergies, and what you're hoping cannabis might help with. Be honest. This is a medical conversation, not a test you need to pass. If you have anxiety, say so. If you have trouble sleeping, say so. If you have chronic back pain from sitting on long-haul flights, say so. The conditions that qualify are genuinely broad.
If the practitioner approves, they issue the PT33. The form includes your name, your ID details, the medical reason, the prescribed quantity, and the dispensary where you'll be purchasing. It's valid for 30 days and authorizes up to 30 grams.
You purchase your cannabis from the dispensary. The shop keeps a record of your PT33 for compliance purposes. You keep your copy. You should carry it whenever you're in possession of cannabis in Thailand.
Total time: 15-30 minutes. Total cost: 500-3,000 baht for the consultation, depending on the clinic and practitioner. The cannabis itself is separate.
Some important boundaries that tourists consistently misunderstand:
It does not let you smoke in public. Your PT33 authorizes you to purchase and possess cannabis. It does not override the public consumption ban. Smoking in public is still illegal - prescription or not - with fines up to 25,000 baht. For the full breakdown on where you can actually consume in Bangkok, I wrote a separate post.
It does not cover extracts above 0.2% THC. Your PT33 is primarily for cannabis flower. Edibles, vape cartridges, concentrates, and other extract-based products above the 0.2% line operate under different restrictions.
It does not let you take cannabis out of Thailand. Your prescription is valid inside Thailand only. Attempting to cross any border - air, land, or sea - with Thai cannabis is a terrible idea with potentially severe consequences.
It does not replace a foreign prescription. If you have a medical cannabis card from another country, it has no legal standing in Thailand. You need a Thai-issued PT33 from a Thai-licensed practitioner.
It expires after 30 days. If you're staying longer, you'll need a renewal consultation. Same process, same cost.
Showing up without a passport. A driver's license won't work. A passport photo on your phone won't work. Bring the physical passport.
Going to a shop without medical services. Not every dispensary can issue a PT33. Some smaller shops are licensed to sell but rely on customers already having their prescription. Check before you walk in, or use a guide that's already verified which shops offer the full process.
Assuming it's a formality. The consultation is real. The practitioner can decline to issue a PT33 if they don't think cannabis is appropriate for your situation. This is rare for tourists with legitimate reasons, but it's not automatic. Take it seriously.
Not carrying the PT33 afterward. Once you have it, keep it on you whenever you're carrying cannabis. If you're ever asked by law enforcement to prove your purchase is legal, this is your documentation.
Waiting until the last day of the trip. Get your PT33 on day one or two of your visit. It's valid for 30 days - there's no advantage to waiting, and if there's an issue, you want time to sort it out.
I know this is a counterintuitive take, but after watching both eras from inside hundreds of dispensaries, I believe it: the PT33 system produces better outcomes for tourists than the open-sales era did.
When anyone could buy anything from anyone, the market was flooded with shops that had no medical knowledge, no quality control, and no incentive to treat customers like patients rather than transactions. The PT33 requirement forced dispensaries to either partner with medical professionals or close. The ones that remained are the ones with real staff, real knowledge, and real compliance.
The 15-minute consultation might feel like friction. But it's the same friction that separates a pharmacy from a vending machine. And after watching enough tourists have bad experiences because nobody asked them a single question before selling them the strongest product on the shelf, I'll take the friction.
I've been documenting which shops handle this process well on Instagram - the ones where the consultation feels like a conversation, not a speed bump. For deeper discussions about how this regulatory framework is shaping the industry, Reefers Club is where those conversations happen among people who've been building in this space since before the rules changed. And agencies like GoodiesFM are helping dispensaries communicate the PT33 process clearly and compliantly - important work when the law explicitly bans cannabis advertising but the market still needs to educate its customers.
The PT33 isn't a barrier. It's a filter. And after 650 dispensaries, I can tell you: what it filters out is exactly the stuff you didn't want anyway.
Written by someone who has watched more PT33 consultations than most doctors and still thinks the process works.
Dispensaries with real on-site practitioners, real consultations, and real compliance. Verified across 650+ visits. These are the ones that take the 15 minutes seriously.
Get The Full Map → Use code SAGUNNAGAR for 30% offThis article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. PT33 requirements and processes may change. Always verify current regulations through official Thai government sources. Adults 20+ only.
