Shops and retail
How to choose a dispensary location without guessing
Thailand Cannabis Report · Reefers Club Co., Ltd. · Last checked 31 October 2026
In 2022 a good dispensary location was anywhere with tourists. In 2026 the first question is whether the site can be licensed and keep its licence. Trading potential comes second, and it now depends on a prescription-based customer, not passing curiosity.
The legal checks first
- Prohibited places. Selling in places such as temples, dormitories and public parks is grounds for revocation, and rules target sales to students. Estimated
- The right to the premises. Ownership or a possessory right you can show. Verified
- Room for the conditions. Separate storage off the floor and an effective odour and smoke removal system.
- DTAM's discretion. DTAM may refuse a licence or a conversion on the location. Verified
See where a dispensary can and cannot be located.
The landlord questions
- Does the lease allow a licensed cannabis business, in writing?
- Will the landlord give the consent the licence needs?
- What happens to the lease if the licence is refused or not renewed?
- Are neighbours likely to complain about smell?
The trading factors
- Customers with prescriptions. Every sale needs a PT.33, so a site near a clinic or with a working prescription arrangement trades differently from one relying on walk-ins.
- Visibility without advertising. Advertising controlled herbs is a breach, so the site itself does more of the work.
- Inspection attention. The Ministry has said inspections will focus especially on tourist areas and major cities. Verified
- Competition and closures. 5 in 6 licences due in 2025 were not renewed, so ask why nearby shops closed.
Do not guess
Visit at the hours you plan to trade, talk to the provincial public health office before signing, and test the site against your business plan. See what a business plan must cover. The report's sections on where the shops are cover the market side in detail.
Section 3 of the report, free to read, sets out the licence conditions.
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
What should I check before choosing a dispensary location?
Prohibited places nearby, the lease and landlord consent, room for storage and odour control, neighbours, and whether the site suits a prescription-based business.
Can a location cause a licence refusal?
Yes. DTAM may refuse a new licence or a conversion on the location of the premises.
Do inspections focus on certain areas?
The Ministry has said inspections will focus especially on tourist areas and major cities.
Does foot traffic still matter?
Yes, but every sale now needs a PT.33, so how buyers get a prescription matters as much as passing trade.
Is a former dispensary site a good choice?
Not automatically. Check why the last shop closed and whether the site passes today's rules.
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.