Don’t Worry, Getting Your Script Is Easier Than You Think
So you’ve landed in Phuket. Maybe you’re on holiday, maybe you’re a local, or maybe you’ve just discovered your go-to dispensary. But now the rules have changed and suddenly everyone’s talking about prescriptions, PorThor reports, and medical use only.
Here’s what’s real: as of July 1, 2025, every sale of cannabis flower in Phuket is considered medical use only. That means no prescription? No product. Period.
But before you panic, this isn’t some impossible bureaucratic maze. In fact, getting your medical cannabis card in Phuket (aka a legal medical prescription in Phuket) is easier than you think. Some shops (like us at Phuket High) can even guide you through the process with a certified teledoctor in under 15 minutes.
This guide walks you through:
- Why the laws changed in Phuket
- What counts as a valid medical cannabis card in Phuket
- How to get one (even as a tourist)
- What shops are required to do
- What not to do if you want to stay out of trouble
No speculation. No hearsay. Only confirmed guidance from the July 7 Phuket Health Department meeting.
By the end, you’ll know exactly how to shop legally, what you need to bring, and how to stay safe and compliant in 2025.
1. 📜 Why You Need a Medical Prescription in Phuket (2025 Rules Recap)
Let’s be blunt: recreational cannabis sales are done. At least in Phuket.
Following a major update from the Phuket Health Department on July 7, 2025, all cannabis flower sold in dispensaries must now follow strict medical-use guidelines. The biggest shift? Every sale must be tied to a valid, single-use doctor’s prescription.
Here’s what that means:
- No prescription = no sale. Even if you’re a regular or know the staff.
- All purchases are now logged as medical sales under PorThor 28.
- Dispensaries must retain the physical prescription for inspection by local health officials.
- Prescriptions must come from a licensed Thai doctor—foreign scripts aren’t accepted.
- And once you use a prescription, it’s done. No reusing. No saving the rest for later.
If a dispensary sells without a script? They’re risking suspension or full license revocation. That’s how serious it’s gotten.
🌐 For the full background on the Phuket cannabis law changes, see our Phuket Cannabis Law Update 2025.
2. How to Get Your Medical Cannabis Card in Phuket (Even as a Tourist)
Now that it’s required, how do you actually get a prescription?
Good news: you don’t need to go to a government hospital or wait weeks. There are clinics and certified teledoctor partners across Phuket who are approved to provide legal cannabis prescriptions—some dispensaries even help you do it right inside the shop.
Here’s how the process works:
✅ Step-by-Step: Getting a Valid Medical Cannabis Card in Phuket
- Book a visit with a licensed Thai doctor, either in-person or via teledoctor. (Most reputable shops can help you set this up.)
- The doctor reviews your condition and prescribes accordingly dosage depends on your symptoms and needs. A common prescription might be 5g per day for 15 days.
- The clinic issues a signed prescription.
- This is valid for one purchase only (single-use).
- It must be presented in-person at the dispensary.
- This is valid for one purchase only (single-use).
- The dispensary logs your sale and keeps the physical copy.
- They report it in their PorThor 28 daily/monthly records.
- It’s held securely on-site for one year unless audited.
- They report it in their PorThor 28 daily/monthly records.
💡 Example Scenario:
You tell the doctor you’re experiencing insomnia and anxiety.
They prescribe 5g/day for 10 days → 50g.
You visit the shop and buy 30g.
That’s it, the remaining 20g cannot be used on a future visit. You’ll need a new prescription.
If you’re shopping at Phuket High, our team can walk you through the full process of getting a medical prescription in Phuket and help you get set up with a certified teledoctor. The whole thing takes 10–15 minutes, and once done, you’re ready to shop.
And no, we don’t keep your private info. It stays securely with the clinic. We only keep the prescription, as required by law, in case the Phuket Health Department drops in for a random check.
📌 Important: Foreign prescriptions do not qualify. You must get one issued by a Thai doctor within the country.
3. 🛒 What Happens After You Have Your Prescription?
Alright, you’ve got your prescription. Now what?
🌿 Buying Flower Legally in Phuket (Post-2025 Update)
With your prescription in hand, you can legally purchase flower from any licensed dispensary in Phuket, as long as they follow the updated 2025 laws. Here’s what the store (and you) must do:
📍What the Dispensary Must Check:
- Your prescription is valid, signed, and dated by a licensed Thai doctor
- The prescription is single-use only (no partial carryover)
- The store retains the prescription physically for audit purposes (cannot be returned to you)
- The store logs your purchase using PorThor 28 (daily + monthly reports)
🔒 What You Should Know as a Customer:
- You must shop in person—online orders or DMs are not legally allowed
- You cannot reuse your script for future visits (even if you didn’t max out the amount)
- You can’t just show a photo or copy of the prescription—it must be the original
- The budtenders can’t legally sell to you without that paper in hand
If the dispensary sells without a script? They risk losing their license on the spot.
If you try to shop without one? You’re not just out of luck, it puts the shop and staff at legal risk.
✅ Pro Tip:
Always ask your chosen dispensary if they can connect you to a trusted teledoctor partner or if they offer in-shop prescription assistance. The good ones will help you get everything done quickly, without cutting corners.
4. 🌾 GACP Flower, Dispensary Rules, and What’s Changing in 2025
With new national regulations rolling out, selling flower in Phuket isn’t just about having stock, it’s about having certified stock. As of July 1, 2025, all cannabis flower sold in stores must meet specific sourcing and legal requirements.
✅ GACP Certification Is Now Mandatory
Every flower product must come from a GACP-certified farm. That means:
- Grown by farms officially listed by the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department
- Certified warehouses and distributors only
- No grey-area growers or “friend of a friend” farms allowed
If your shop still has flower harvested before July 1, 2025, it can be sold until the stock runs out. After that, it’s GACP or nothing.
If you want to know more about GACP, read GACPAsia’s full guide about it.
🧾 What Stores Must Now Provide (Legally):
To sell flower, dispensaries must now hold:
📌 A Valid License
- Either a license to sell controlled herbal products
- Or a notification receipt for selling them commercially
📌 COA (Certificate of Analysis)
- Every batch must be tested
- Results must come from ISO 17025-accredited labs (government or certified private)
📌 A Professional License Holder On Record
The shop owner or responsible person must now have a Sor.Bor.33 license under one of these professions:
- Thai Traditional Medicine Practitioner
- Pharmacist
- Doctor
- Dentist
- Nurse
- Veterinarian
- Certified Folk Healer
This is now mandatory for all cannabis flower vendors—no exceptions. If you’re just a business owner with no health license? You’ll need to partner with or hire someone who qualifies.
🧠 Transparency Rules You Can’t Ignore:
New storefront rules include:
- License number (e.g., Sor.Bor.27 or Sor.Bor.28) must be clearly displayed
- Licenses must be submitted to the government (email or portal)
- Smoking on business premises = not allowed
- Advertising is completely banned, across all platforms
Even for customers, this means:
- No flashy ads
- No special promotions
- No public “weed culture” at the shop
- It’s all about compliance
5. 🚭 Where You Can (and Can’t) Smoke in Phuket Under the 2025 Cannabis Law
Now that getting flower legally requires a prescription and proper documentation, what about lighting up? Here’s the straight answer:
You can only smoke in private. Period.
✅ Legal Smoking Locations:
- Your own home or a private residence (with permission from the owner)
- Long-term rentals (again, if they’re fully private and the host allows it)
If you’re renting a house, villa, or apartment, make sure the space isn’t shared and the host gives you a thumbs-up.
❌ Illegal Smoking Locations:
- 🚫 Hotel rooms (even with a balcony)
- 🚫 Beaches, parks, and other public areas
- 🚫 Cars, scooters, or any vehicle
- 🚫 Dispensary property or near the shop
- 🚫 Shared Airbnbs or condos
Why? Because public smoking is illegal, and the definition of “public” is strict. Even if there’s no one around, if it’s not a truly private, approved space, it’s a no-go.
👮 Penalties If You Get It Wrong:
Phuket authorities are serious about enforcement. If you’re caught smoking in public or breaking any of these rules, here’s what you could face:
- Fines
- Eviction from your hotel or Airbnb
- If you’re a store? License suspension or revocation
So even though flower is still legal to buy (with a prescription), how and where you enjoy it is no longer casual.
Want the full breakdown of smoking laws in Phuket? Check out our Phuket Smoking Rules blog here.
Final Checklist For Buying Marijuana Legally in Phuket in 2025
Let’s make it simple. If you want to stay legal and stress-free when shopping for medical cannabis in Phuket, follow this checklist:
📝 What You Need to Buy:
- ✅ A single-use cannabis prescription
- Issued by a licensed Thai doctor
- Includes dosage and duration (e.g., 5g/day for 15 days)
- Issued by a licensed Thai doctor
- ✅ In-person visit to a dispensary
- No online sales or DMs
- No online sales or DMs
- ✅ Prescription stays with the shop
- You don’t get to take it home
- You don’t get to take it home
- ✅ Shop must report sale through PorThor 28
🚫 What You Can’t Do:
- ❌ Reuse a prescription
- ❌ Buy flower without a valid script
- ❌ Smoke in public, hotels, or vehicles
- ❌ Buy or sell non-GACP flower (unless previously reported before July 1, 2025)
- ❌ Sell or consume edibles or infused treats
📦 What Dispensaries Must Have:
- ✅ License (Sor.Bor.27, Sor.Bor.28)
- ✅ Flower from GACP-certified farms (after July 1 stock runs out)
- ✅ COA (lab test results) for each batch
- ✅ Report system in place and visible license number on site
Rules Changed, Access Didn’t Disappear
Let’s be real, shopping for flower in Phuket has changed. But it’s still legal, still accessible, and still part of the lifestyle, if you follow the new flow.
Phuket High is here to help you make sense of it all. Whether you’re a local, an expat, or a curious tourist, we’ve got your back with real info and a respectful experience.
👉 Want to stay ahead of the law?
Check out these essential reads:
And if you’re not sure where to start, come visit us or talk to our team. We’re your local best friends for a reason.