Thailand Maps 11,000 Legal Cannabis Shops as New Rules Loom

Thailand Maps 11,000 Legal Cannabis Shops as New Rules Loom

BANGKOK, April 24, 2026 — Thailand has launched an interactive online map to track licensed cannabis shops and cultivation sites nationwide, as authorities move to tighten oversight and restrict cannabis use to medical purposes only.

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine said the new platform, known as the Medical Cannabis Geographic Information System (MC-GIS), allows the public and regulators to verify whether cannabis businesses are legally licensed.

Deputy Director-General Dr. Thewan Thaneerat said the system pins every authorised cannabis retailer and cultivation site onto a live digital map accessible nationwide.

Any outlet listed on the platform must hold valid licences for both sales and processing, officials said.

“The GIS pinning system is part of a proactive measure to create a transparent and fair verification process, while reinforcing confidence that cannabis will be used appropriately for public health,” Thewan said.

Thailand has registered 18,517 cannabis-related establishments since legalisation reforms began. However, 7,131 outlets closed after failing to renew licences in 2025, leaving 11,386 businesses currently operating legally, according to department data.

The digital rollout comes as Thailand prepares stricter cannabis regulations after years of liberalisation that sparked rapid growth in dispensaries and public debate over recreational use.

A new ministerial regulation approved by the Cabinet is set to replace the existing 2016 licensing framework and limit cannabis sales to medical channels only.

Under the revised rules, cannabis sellers would be permitted to operate only from medical facilities, pharmacies, herbal medicine retailers and registered traditional healers’ premises.

Doctors would be required to oversee prescriptions, while authorised personnel would handle dispensing.

The rules would also tighten storage and staffing requirements, including mandatory trained staff on-site at all times.

Officials said another 4,587 licences are due to expire in 2026, followed by 5,210 more in 2027, potentially reshaping Thailand’s cannabis market further.

Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalise cannabis in 2022, but policymakers have since sought to balance economic opportunities with public health concerns.