Shops and retail
Franchises and shop-in-shop models: are they legal?
Thailand Cannabis Report · Reefers Club Co., Ltd. · Last checked 31 October 2026
Branded chains and franchise offers spread fast during the open-retail years. Under the 2026 rules, a brand can still grow across sites, but each site is its own licence, its own premises and its own compliance record.
A licence is per site
A controlled-herb sale licence attaches to a licensee and a set of premises. Ministerial Regulation No. 2 sets conditions on those premises: held by right, storage, a trained worker on duty and odour control. Verified A licence for one shop does not cover another, so a chain of ten shops is ten licences. Estimated
Franchising
- A franchisor can license its brand, design, training and systems.
- Each franchisee must hold its own licence, meet the eligibility list and run its own compliance.
- The franchisor cannot hold a licence on the franchisee's behalf, and should not use a nominee structure to control shops. See the nominee trap.
Shop-in-shop
A cannabis counter inside a hotel, café or clinic is still a licensed shop. It needs its own licence, premises it holds by right, separate storage, a trained worker on duty and odour control. Smoking on the premises is grounds for revocation, which rules out many hospitality settings. See can a dispensary allow smoking on site.
The brand question
Advertising controlled herbs for commerce is a 30-day suspension under the guideline announced on 22 June 2026. Estimated A franchise model that depends on promotion meets that rule head on. See is there room for a cannabis brand.
The draft Act
As reported, the draft Cannabis Control Act would require shops to become medical facilities to renew. Estimated A franchise built for retail may need a medical model to survive.
Section 3 of the report, free to read, sets out the licence conditions every site must meet.
Sources
- Section 3 of the 2026 report, The rules in force (free to read)
- Thairath, DTAM guideline on administrative orders for cannabis shops, 22 June 2026
- Nation Thailand, Thai cabinet endorses draft cannabis control bill for medical use, 22 September 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
Can you franchise a cannabis dispensary in Thailand?
A brand can license its name and systems, but each shop needs its own DTAM licence for its own premises and licensee.
Can one licence cover several shops?
No. A licence attaches to a licensee and premises, so each site is licensed separately.
Is a shop-in-shop legal?
A counter inside another business still needs its own licence, premises held by right and all the licence conditions.
Does the advertising ban affect franchises?
Yes. Advertising controlled herbs for commerce is a breach, which limits brand promotion.
Who is responsible for compliance?
The licensee at each site. A franchisor cannot hold the licence on a franchisee's behalf.
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.