Quick summary
- Cannabis flower is a controlled herb: only licensed outlets may sell it, and buyers need a practitioner's prescription.
- The main lookup tools are DTAM's MC-GIS map (cannabis-gis.dtam.moph.go.th) and the Mor Prom app.
- The Public Health Minister said on 22 Sep 2026 that shops not in the system should be presumed illegal.
- A compliant outlet is a clinic, pharmacy, herbal-product shop or certified folk healer, with trained staff and odour/smoke control.
- Online sales, delivery, vending machines and advertising are all illegal.
- Report suspected shops via LINE @traffyfondue or call 02 257 7042 (office hours).
Shops with cannabis-leaf signs are still easy to find in Bangkok and tourist areas. But since a new Ministerial Regulation took effect on 30 April 2026 and the Ministry of Public Health stepped up inspections, knowing whether a shop is legal matters more than ever. This guide explains how to check a licensed cannabis shop in Thailand, using what the authorities have told the press: the lookup system, signs of a compliant outlet, red flags and how to report. cannabis-official.com is an independent news site and does not endorse or recommend any shop.
Step 1: Look the shop up on MC-GIS and Mor Prom
The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) runs a map called Medical Cannabis GIS (MC-GIS) at cannabis-gis.dtam.moph.go.th. According to Matichon (22 Apr 2026), it shows licensed shops and grow sites, and any shop on the map must hold a valid licence to sell and process cannabis and be operating normally.
On the system's page you can filter by:
- Data type: establishments or grow sites
- Status: operating, closed, licence suspended or licence revoked
- Health region and province
DTAM also says (Matichon, 19 Jun 2026) the Mor Prom app can be used to check shops, grow sites and licence expiry dates. The simplest habit: search for the shop name and province before you walk in, and make sure its status is "operating", not "suspended" or "revoked".
For scale: April 2026 figures put cumulative establishments at 18,517, of which 7,131 closed in 2025 for not renewing, leaving 11,386 operating legally. On 22 Sep 2026, Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said more than 10,000 locations were recorded and that any shop not in the system should be presumed illegal.
Step 2: Check the type of premises and licence
The Ministerial Regulation on controlled-herb licences for commerce (No. 2) of 2026, in force since 30 April 2026, requires sellers to be one of:
- a medical facility (such as a clinic)
- a legal premises that makes or sells drugs and herbal products
- a certified traditional (folk) healer
Existing licences remain valid until they expire, but renewals must meet the new criteria, so roadside shops that are not clinics or pharmacies will gradually disappear. Business owners can read how to open a cannabis shop in 2026.
Step 3: Check the staff, the prescription and the shopfront
A compliant outlet should show these signs:
- DTAM-trained staff on duty during all opening hours (2026 regulation)
- A prescription from a licensed practitioner on form Phor Tor 33 (ภ.ท.33); the prescriber must be treating their own patient, and the supply is capped at 30 days (2025 announcement; Khaosod)
- An effective odour and smoke removal system, with flowers not stored directly on the floor
- No commercial advertising on any channel
- No sales online, through vending machines or over computer networks
- No sales for smoking on the premises, except by practitioners treating their own patients
- No sales at temples, dormitories, public parks, zoos or amusement parks
Caveat: Appearing on MC-GIS does not prove a shop follows every rule. In June 2026 officials started legal action against licensed Bangkok shops that breached their licence conditions. Rules are still changing while the Cannabis Control Act is pending; if in doubt, check directly with DTAM.
Checklist: legal outlet vs red flag
| Check | Compliant outlet | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| MC-GIS / Mor Prom | Listed, status "operating" | Not listed, or suspended/revoked |
| Premises type | Clinic, pharmacy, herbal shop, folk healer | Ordinary shop, bar, street stall |
| Prescription | Asks for Phor Tor 33 before dispensing | Sells instantly, no questions |
| Staff | Trained staff on duty | Nobody can discuss medical use |
| Sales channel | In person only | Chat orders, delivery, vending machine |
| Advertising | No promotions or sales posts | Neon promos, discounts, paid reviews |
| Smoking | No smoking on site | Smoking lounge |
| Customers | No sales to under-20s | Sells to students or minors |
What buyers risk at unlicensed shops
- No traceable source. Licensed sellers must buy from farms certified for good cultivation and harvesting and keep records of source and quantity; illegal shops have no such system.
- Some products are still narcotics. Extracts above 0.2% THC by weight remain a Category 5 narcotic, and those involved can be arrested under the Narcotics Code.
- More inspections. Officials can inspect, seize and freeze goods, and arrest unlicensed sellers on the spot, with the 2026 regulation extending powers to provincial administration officials, including in Bangkok and Pattaya.
- Users may face fines in future. The draft Cannabis Control Act approved by the Cabinet on 22 Sep 2026 would fine users for misuse (the draft is not yet law).
For the bigger picture, see legal cannabis use in Thailand, Thailand cannabis law 2026 and, for visitors, our cannabis guide for tourists in Bangkok and Phuket.
How to report an illegal cannabis shop
- Traffy Fondue on LINE
@traffyfondue, open 24 hours. DTAM lists examples such as operating without a licence, selling to under-20s and allowing smoking on site; 73 reports came in between 1 May and 12 Jun 2026. - Medical Cannabis Coordination Center: 02 257 7042, office hours.
- DTAM Medical Cannabis Division: 02 591 7007 ext. 3706, the Facebook page "กองกัญชาทางการแพทย์", or LINE Official
@DTAM(office hours).
Tip: give the shop name, address or map pin, date and time, and what you saw (for example, sales without a prescription or delivery). Do not confront the seller yourself.
FAQ
How do I check if a cannabis shop in Thailand is licensed?
Search for it on Medical Cannabis GIS (MC-GIS), the map run by the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) at cannabis-gis.dtam.moph.go.th, which filters establishments by province and licence status. DTAM also says the Mor Prom app shows shops, grow sites and licence expiry dates.
Is a cannabis shop that is not in the system illegal?
On 22 September 2026 the Public Health Minister said the system holds more than 10,000 registered locations and that shops missing from it should be presumed illegal. If in doubt, check directly with DTAM.
Do I need a prescription to buy cannabis in Thailand?
Yes. Cannabis flower is a controlled herb, and dispensing to an individual requires a prescription (form Phor Tor 33) from a licensed practitioner treating their own patient, capped at a 30-day supply.
How do I report an illegal cannabis shop in Thailand?
Report it through Traffy Fondue on LINE (@traffyfondue), which runs 24 hours, or call the Medical Cannabis Coordination Center on 02 257 7042 during office hours. Include the shop name, location, date and time, and what you saw.
Can cannabis shops in Thailand sell online or deliver?
No. The 2025 controlled-herb announcement bans sales through vending machines, electronic channels and computer networks, and bans commercial advertising on all channels. A shop taking chat orders or offering delivery is a clear red flag.
Sources
- Hfocus — Cabinet approves draft Cannabis Control Act; Public Health Minister says medical use only
- Matichon Online — DTAM pins cannabis shops on GIS map, medical use only
- Matichon Online — DTAM one-month results: over 1,000 cannabis shops inspected nationwide
- Bangkok Biz News — Ministerial Regulation on controlled-herb sales (No. 2) 2026 takes effect 30 April
- Hfocus — Medical cannabis timeline before the draft Cannabis Control Act
- Thai PBS — Royal Gazette publishes controlled-herb rules for cannabis flowers, effective 26 June 2025
- Khaosod — Cannabis shops must become clinics; existing licence holders must re-register
- Thansettakij — Public Health Ministry pins legal cannabis shops nationwide on GIS
- Thansettakij — Crackdown on illegal cannabis shops near temples and schools




