ricku

After working hard and saving up a lot of pocket money, I'm finally heading back to Thailand at the end of February.

A few days ago, I tried to apply for the new 'METV-visa' (multiple entry), but here in Sweden, the Thai consulate denied me, because I am not employed.. I kid you not, for a 6 month traveling visa, they require me to be an employee. I tried to to reason with them, but it was like banging my head against a brick wall. They completely ignored that I had a lot of money saved up (above 400.000 THB.)

Oh well.. What are my alternatives? Border runs?

I just ask, because last year I had some problems after my third 'fly-out-fly-in'.. I came back from a weekend trip to Singapore, and then thai customs told me that I must stop making border runs, because "I had reached my limit".

What can a simple unemployed guy do?

PEOPLE in parts of the North will be able to start farming hemp – legally – from next year.

“The Cabinet has already approved hemp as an economic plant,” Sirinya Sittichai, secretary-general of the Narcotics Control Board, said yesterday.

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly will buy the harvest from growers. The plantation areas are 15 districts in six provinces – Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phetchabun, Mae Hong Son and Tak.

However, this is just a "first step" in the legalisation process, and for now the plants must contain less than 1 per cent of THC. (The fun stuff.)

Sources:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30302983
<Bangkok Post link not allowed removed>
 

Wait a second.. So vaping is illegal in Thailand? I'm feeling quite baffled to hear this.

Cigarettes are legal, but not e-cigs.. What the hell.

And they won't just fine you, but actually arrest you for vaping?? Thailand is so damn weird some times.. 
 

34 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

 

The OP may not realize it, but marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance in America.  Which means that its use is still against US federal law.  The federal government has simply decided not to enforce these laws in states that have chosen to legalize pot.  This may change when Jeff Sessions takes over as US Attorney General.  So drug laws in America may be as "retarded" (in the OPs words) as Thailand and most other places.

But even in the states with outdated laws, they won't lock you up for years because of minor possession.

Like they do in Thailand..

Throwing non violent offenders (smokers) in jail, while allowing unlimited consumption of alcohol.. That's what I referred to as 'retarded'

1 hour ago, F4UCorsair said:

The OP said (unable to quote, so cut and paste)

 

"I am well aware of the retarded drug laws in Thailand, and I have no intention of breaking any of them.

But let's say that I smoke up in some country where it is legal (like USA or Holland). And shortly after that, I fly to Thailand and I get caught with THC in my blood, in some random urine test at some random nightclub. These things do happen!

Will I get prosecuted, even though I smoked the weed in a country where it's legal?"
 

 

People's different perspectives on something are quite amusing at times.

 

If I started this thread, I'd be saying.....

 

I'd KNOW I was retarded if I smoked dope......in ANY country, much less in a SE Asian country!!

 

If it's so good, why is it not addictive??  Surely if something is as good as dope is claimed to be, you want more, and more, etc., and according to an earlier poster, if you smoke a lot, it is addictive.

 

I would have thought a B50,000 (about AUD 2000), as quoted by dcnx post #15, as the required payment to the BiB, would be sufficient incentive to not use the stuff??

 

To each his own.  

Do you drink alcohol? If yes, then please get of your high horse. It's seems a lot of your basis for hating weed is that people who smoke it seem "less intelligent". If you are fine with alcohol (being drunk), then your dislike for marijuana is hypocritical at best.. I'd say retarded.

2 minutes ago, dotpoom said:

Didn't we get a lot of posts on here within the past year about Farangs  being stopped in BKK and getting on the spot urine tests done on them? 

Definitely. I've read lots of posts like that, and not just here on Thaivisa.

Hence my little worries.

3 hours ago, hanuman2543 said:

It will stay in your system for about one month if you are a regular smoker. 10 days if you smoke only once. When they test your hair, then depending on the length of the hair they can proof it for up to a year or even longer. Next time get your facts right before posting false info.

There is no grace period if you smoked in countries where it is legal and then get caught here. Cough up the fine and take it like a man. You have been warned.

I smoke occasionally, like 2 - 3 joints per month. You say that my info is false, but according to websites like TheCannabist, It could take more than three months before a person has cleared all the THC from his/her system.

There is an article about it right here:
http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/03/09/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system/48677/

Well, thanks for the input and warnings (everyone), I'll just skip smoking for a few months before I head to Thailand. That's the beauty of this thing, it really never gets addictive. At least if you don't chain-smoke it.

Yeah, I know that the risk of getting caught is extremely low, but I don't want to take any chances in that country.

I am well aware of the retarded drug laws in Thailand, and I have no intention of breaking any of them.

But let's say that I smoke up in some country where it is legal (like USA or Holland). And shortly after that, I fly to Thailand and I get caught with THC in my blood, in some random urine test at some random nightclub. These things do happen!

Will I get prosecuted, even though I smoked the weed in a country where it's legal?

F.Y.I. The THC remains in a human body for up to 3 months..

51 minutes ago, Saastrajaa said:

They're much more likely to legalize methamphetamine ("Ice" in Thai slang) rather than pot.

Why do you think so?

They prefer dead stoners instead of just high ones?

13 hours ago, MisterTee said:

"...dose anyone no the long term affect of that rubbish drug..."

You've answered your own question, George.

Pure gold. :D 

3 minutes ago, anotheruser said:

Thailand is trying to thin the herd. I can't imagine they are going to go out of their way to become a destination for penniless pot smokers. If you wake up in the morning and consider your expenses in terms of how many "nugs" you can get be prepared to be disappointed.

I don't know how much power their justice minister has, but just the fact that he seems hell bent on decriminalising weed, seems rather promising to me.. I also doubt that he stands alone.

After all, throwing non violent offenders into jail is certainly one of the most stupid things a government can do.

1 minute ago, anotheruser said:

False.

Obviously not.

Justice Minister is still working on it, reportedly doubling down on his efforts. :)

3 fresh articles:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1138965/paiboon-stands-by-delisting-pot-krathom-plan

http://extract.suntimes.com/news/10/153/23779/thailand-justice-minister-wants-rewrite-law-marijuana

http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thailands-justice-minister-stands-firm-on-removing-krathom-and-marijuana-from-narcotic-drug-list.html

Good times ahead.

 

On 11/21/2016 at 9:40 AM, simon43 said:

Only applies to Thai citizens... 

This would not surprise me at all.

I see. Thanks for the info.

But I guess it's good news if the justice minister is trying  to push for it. I'm also glad and very surprised to see that 80% voted for legalisation in an online poll.

Perhaps the majority is finally starting to realise how incredibly stupid it is to throw non violent offenders (weed smokers) in prison.

I've found some chatter from multiple websites, saying that officials in Thailand are "talking about relaxing" the drug laws", since an online poll has shown that 80% want marijuana legalized.

Here is some of it: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2016/08/30/regime-moves-ease-drug-laws-starting-meth-marijuana/

And: http://www.marijuana.com/blog/news/2016/08/thailand-officials-look-to-relax-drug-laws-as-new-poll-shows-80-want-marijuana-legalized/

Quote from one of the articles:

Purportedly reducing penalties for both marijuana and meth possession by the end of the year, Thailand’s officials are apparently cognizant of their constituents’ passion for marijuana reform — a recent poll showed the majority of respondents believe the Thai government should legalize marijuana.

Smelling the political and ideological shift in international marijuana reform, Bangkok’s officials announced today that “penalties and restrictions on marijuana and methamphetamine will be relaxed by year’s end,” according to online sources. Also on the short list to be rescheduled — hemp. After reviewing the economic benefits of reclassifying hemp, Sirinya Sitdhichai, director of the Narcotics Control Board, noted that “hemp and marijuana will undergo reclassification first.

The articles are a few months old, and there has not been any updates since then.

Is this true or just a false rumor?
To me all this sounds like a dream come true (or an early april fools joke), so I ain't celebrating yet. lol

15 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

u can color it any way you want, BUT if ur in Thailand doing anything to do with ur business anywhere, your working in Thailand without a wp and ur doing something illegal.
IF what you say is true. go back to  Sweden and apply for a METV  ( should be easy (that will give you almost 9 months here in Thailand

I'm not trying to color it, and I believe what you say. I've even looked it up now, and I know it's true.. But I just find it so over the top "amazing"!

Because it really means that everyone who is having work related contact with their company at home, is a "criminal". lol.

But yes, the real issue here is my visa-runs. So I guess I'll have to do that METV next time.

Thanks btw.

3 minutes ago, muzmurray said:

 

Check my edited post.

Edit: Like I said, I even told the immigration about my company in Sweden. Three officers in their office, and they fully understood me. Yet, here I am drinking morning coffee on my balcony.

So I just returned from a 2 day trip (visa-run) to Singapore, and I almost got stopped at the airport immigration counter, here in Bangkok!

I queued up for the immigration counter like usual, but when it was my turn, the immigration officer called for her 'supervisor'. The supervisor came and brought me their office, and then they started to ask me a lot of odd questions. I answered everything truthfully, and after 20 minutes they let me go.

First they wanted to know why I haven't returned to Sweden in 7 months. I explained to them that I am a shareholder of my family company in Sweden, and that I don't have to be in Sweden physically, to run my part of the business. I also ensured them that I am not working in Thailand illegally. I also explained that I have a girlfriend here (serious relationship), and that we live together in my condo. I told them that she is my main reason for living here.

I did not lie about anything, I have nothing to hide, and thankfully they believed me. But then then they told me that I can no longer 'fly out and fly in' like I've been doing until now, because I have hit some kind of "visa-run limit".. It seems that the immigration officer who spoke with me, wanted me to "return to Sweden for a while" (?), next time my tourist visa runs out, because my continuous visa-runs causes some "problems in their system".

What on earth is this? Do I really have to return to Sweden and sit there for a while before I return to Thailand next time? I'm feeling a bit shocked and confused right now. Has anyone else experienced something like this when returning from a visa run?

Thanks for all the replies! I will check it out

I arrived in BKK a couple of days ago and now I need to get some new clothes.

Please recommend me a few places where I can find some nice mens clothing. Shirts, polo-shirts, shorts, e.t.c.

I'm looking for "cheap" but still "ok quality".. Think H&M. You know what I mean?

I know there is H&M in BKK, but what else is there?