Licences and rules
Thailand vs Germany: two cannabis models compared
Thailand Cannabis Report · Reefers Club Co., Ltd. · Last checked 31 October 2026
Thailand and Germany both made headlines for changing cannabis law this decade. They did it from opposite ends: Thailand opened retail without an Act and is now pulling back to medicine; Germany passed an Act, allowed personal use and kept commercial shops closed.
Thailand: retail first, rules later
- Medical cannabis legalised in 2019.
- The plant removed from the narcotics list on 9 June 2022, opening retail without a cannabis Act.
- Prescription required for every flower sale from 26 June 2025.
- A licence renewal test from 30 April 2026, and a draft Cannabis Control Act approved by the Cabinet in principle on 22 September 2026. Verified
Germany: law first, no shops
- Medical cannabis available on prescription through pharmacies since 2017.
- A cannabis act in force from 1 April 2024, allowing adult possession within limits and home growing.
- Non-profit cannabis clubs allowed from 1 July 2024.
- No commercial recreational retail. Verified
Side by side
- Retail shops: Thailand licenses them, under a prescription rule; Germany has none for recreational use.
- Medical access: Thailand through licensed shops, clinics and hospitals with a PT.33; Germany through pharmacies.
- Legal basis: Thailand mainly ministerial notifications; Germany an Act of parliament.
- Direction: Thailand tightening; Germany's model under political review but not reopening commercial retail.
What it means for investors
Thailand showed how fast a retail market can grow without a legal framework, and how fast it can shrink when one arrives: 5 in 6 licences due in 2025 were not renewed. Germany's route was slower and gave investors less to buy into. Neither is a template the other will copy. See how Thailand compares with other Asian markets.
Section 3 of the report, free to read, sets out Thailand's rules in force.
Sources
- Section 3 of the 2026 report, The rules in force (free to read)
- Nation Thailand, Thai cabinet endorses draft cannabis control bill for medical use, 22 September 2026
- The Star (Bernama), Thailand to tighten cannabis controls and propose tougher penalties, 22 October 2026
This article is market intelligence, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change by notification; check the current text with the relevant authority or Thai counsel before you act.
In short
How does Thailand's cannabis law compare to Germany's?
Thailand opened retail first and is now tightening to medical use. Germany legalised adult possession, home growing and non-profit clubs, while keeping commercial retail closed.
Can you buy cannabis in a shop in Germany?
Not recreationally. Germany has no commercial recreational shops; adults can grow at home or join non-profit clubs. Medical cannabis comes through pharmacies.
When did Germany legalise cannabis?
Its cannabis act took effect on 1 April 2024, with clubs allowed from 1 July 2024.
Is Thailand moving towards the German model?
No. Thailand's draft Cannabis Control Act, as reported, moves towards medical use only, not adult-use clubs.
What can investors learn from the comparison?
Retail-led opening without a law in place proved unstable in Thailand; Germany legislated first and kept retail closed.
Want the numbers behind this?
This article gives you the argument. The figures, where they come from and how sure we are of each one are in the report.