This subcategory is about growing industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) for fibre, grain (seed) and CBD (cannabidiol, a compound that does not cause a “high”). In Thailand, hemp has long meant cannabis whose dried leaves and flowers contain no more than 1.0% THC by dry weight. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the compound that causes the “high”. This 1.0% figure is Thailand’s threshold for hemp. It was set in 2019–2020, when hemp was still regulated as a narcotic. Confirm with the licensing agency how it applies under the current rules.
Topics covered:
- Hemp varieties and seed selection for fibre, grain and CBD
- Planting, spacing and soil requirements
- Pest and disease management in hemp fields
- Harvesting and post-harvest processing
- Legal requirements for growing hemp in Thailand, and how the rules differ elsewhere in Asia
- Hemp farming economics and market opportunities
Note: Before you grow hemp in Thailand, check which licence or registration your activity needs. Under the 1999 Act, research, export, sale and processing of a controlled herb each need a licence. The Notification of the Ministry of Public Health Re: Controlled Herbs (Cannabis), B.E. 2568 has made cannabis flower a controlled herb since 26 June 2025. B.E. is the Thai Buddhist Era year, so B.E. 2568 is 2025. Flower may only be sold with a PT 33 prescription, for a maximum of 30 days’ supply. Advertising and selling flower online are prohibited. The notification covers the flower of any plant in the genus Cannabis, so hemp flower counts as cannabis flower too.
Before you buy seed or plant, read which licence covers what. Then confirm your own case with the agency that issues the licence. This way you know whether you can legally harvest and sell the crop before you spend money on it.
Translator’s note: Hemp rules in other Southeast Asian countries are not the same as Thailand’s. Do not assume that a Thai threshold or licence applies in Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia or anywhere else. Check the law of the country where you grow. This overview of cannabis laws in Thailand and Southeast Asia is a good starting point.
Post your question or your hemp trial results below this topic. Include your province, your variety and your purpose (fibre, grain or CBD), so other growers can answer for conditions like yours.