ftpjtm

Some differences between Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai. - Pheu Thai did not participate in a coalition to keep the junta in power. - Pheu Thai did not participate in making the voting process substantially less democratic by appointing 250 senators friendly to the ruling coalition. Pheu Thai is far from perfect but a lesser of two evils.

Well that's the hope of the royalists and conservatives. The rural communities historically have strongly supported Pheu Thai (and descendant parties). The conservatives are hoping to appeal to some of them via Bhumjaithai, which is an essential part of the coalition that kept Prayut in power. I personally hope Bhumjaithai loses support to get the conservatives out of power and inch Thailand closer to democracy. And the fact that a ganga bonanza failed to materialize for farmers isn't helping Bhumjaithai https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-promised-cannabis-bonanza-disappoints-politicians-trade-blame-2023-04-06/

Anyone with a small patch of land or some large pots of soil can grow ganga for their own consumption or to sell on a small scale. Yes, individuals can brew alcohol too, but it's more complex than growing a plant. As an example, in my residential neighborhood of about 40 homes, probably close to 50% are currently growing ganga in gardens. Zero are brewing alcohol. Without knowing the source of the ganga currently being sold in the small shops scattered across the country I can't believe a large portion isn't supplied small scale growers. By contrast, the major beverage conglomerate monopolies have a tight grip on the alcohol supply in the major population centers. I don't believe that situation will remain after the upcoming election.

This is all a political ploy to add some rural voters who'd never vote for the conservative parties to the conservative coalition. Rules as they are will last through the election and then it's game over. The current policy makes no sense. Why allow small players a piece of the ganga action when they've been shut out of the (micro brewery) alcohol industry for ages to protect the big boys? Why the stupid mid day and holiday alcohol bans which currently don't apply to ganga shops? Nonsensical and elite protective alcohol policies have been intransigent for decades. Either they change to be more similar to the current ganga free for all, or the ganga rules change to look more like alcohol rules. Difference being that while not everyone can brew alcohol, any idiot can grow a ganga plant. Which to me spells doom for the ganga industry unless the big boys can somehow monopolize it like they do alcohol sales.

As the US is currently (re)proving, if you hand out/spend far more than you take in in taxes, inflation goes through the roof and no one is any better off. Fun party, but the hangover sux.

Thanks Sheryl. You're responses and advice are alway appreciated.

My Dr is US based and unlikely to know the less expensive local options in Thailand. Can you offer any guidance on what's inexpensive and readily available locally so I can pass that info on to the US Dr?

Drawing from a vial is not a problem. Do you have any suggestions as to which readily available, cheap insulin has the most similar formulation/purpose to Lantus, so I can enquire with my Doctor?

The pharmacy I use (small independent shop in Sattahip) and normally is able to order anything they don't stock, says they can't find a supplier for Glaritus (or Basalin which you recommend on another thread). They are able to sell me Lantus pens or vails, but say their suppliers don't have Glaritus or Basalin. Any idea where to order them? Pricing?

ED

Dear RTP, Trust is something that is earned, not demanded.

You answered your own question

Yes, I have my terminology wrong. I have a Multiple Re-Entry Permit valid through May 2023. And yes, the latest arrival stamp allows me to be in country until May 2023.

I have a multiple entry Retirement Extension. My entry stamp expiry date is May 2023 and I understand that I need to renew the Retirement Extension at that time or start with a new Non-O visa.

Thanks again. Can I "extend the current extension of stay" only one more year, or year after year assuming I'm not out of country when the Retirement Extension expires? As always appreciate your responses which are more clear and concise vs everywhere else I've tried.

Thanks for the reply. I entered in February 2022 on a Non-O received in the US, and received a Retirement Extension in May 2022 which is valid through May 2023. I departed in June 2022 and returned in November 2022, so I assume I have entered on the same Visa. I plan on staying in Thailand through June 2023 and to do a new Retirement Extension in May 2023. Based on this; 1) Will I need a new Non-O Visa for my Retirement Extension in May 2023? Will the other have "expired"? 2) Assuming I don't, then if I re-enter in November 2023 will I still be entering under the same Visa and once again not need to file a new TM30?

Both my neighbor and I have Non O visas with Retirement Extensions. We both have Thai wives who own houses and are both registered at our wife's houses via Yellow Books, and we both have pink Thai/Foreign ID cards. I have always gotten a TM30 Form upon arrival to Thailand as I understood this to be required of all foreigners not staying at a hotel. The neighbor tells me it's not necessary to file TM30 if you are registered to a house address via a Yellow Book. Is he correct? Can I/my wife skip the TM30 process?

I posted some links below. Per those links prior to decriminalization of cannabis, about 3% of Thai youths used cannabis or yaba. Versus about 30% who used alcohol. That sounds about right to me. Up until very recently, alcohol was far more readily available than cannabis or yaba. Does that mean that it was impossible for someone determined to aquire cannabis or yaba to find it? Of course not. But I personally didn't know where to find either, while I did know where to find Thai whiskey which like cannabis and yaba I don't consume. Now I do know where to find cannabis. It has become more readily available due to Mr Anutin's efforts. Which part of that am I getting so terribly wrong? https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17450128.2020.1770391?journalCode=rvch20 https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/45/3/278/209016

I guess it depends on the neighborhood. In my neighborhood alcohol is readily available in refrigerators and on kitchen shelves to kids. Yaba, cocaine, opium etc are much less available. Similar situation to my North American neighborhood as a youth. Apparently it's different where you live/lived.

Yes.

For the record, I know many Thai adults who speak out against all of those things.

So you don't think that availability of a drug is a factor in prevalence of usage?

My guess is that due to lesser availability, illegal drug use among kids is lower

He's got nothing to do with increased availability?

Apparently Canadains aren't immune to the health risks. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/smoking-marijuana-harmful-lungs-smoking-cigarettes-study-finds/story?id=93283206