HugoFastor

If anything it's a thing of perception over substance. What is on the medical certificate or how or where the certificate was obtained will be irrelevant. The government will be seen as controlling use of the substance if they start requiring a medical certificate to buy it. But in practice it's not really the government's intent to really control use, only to appease public opinion. It's just optics bro.

Think about it. You open a large sized store, in a high rent location, you invest a lot into fit and fittings, and then you have very little business, but keep the shop open anyway. Meanwhile it's mainly a cash business. Maybe it is just a little bit intentional?

No need to start the panic buying now. At the moment the quality, supply and variety of weed is continuing to increase and prices are continuing to come down. If by July it looks like things might seriously change by year end then, and just maybe, that would be the time to stock up for the future. For now it's all just bluster and show boating by the government (trying to pretend they are concerned) and nothing at all to worry about in the real world.

Small amount and can't be arsed.

Lots of opinions flying here: Personally I think nothing will change. If it was really a concern then the government wouldn't be kicking the can down the road for another 10 months.

There are 10 million local cannabis users in Thailand at present. That's 1 in 7 people. What planet are you on?

Indeed. Buffoonery of the highest order and on multiple levels. And a totally unelected government, just like the previous one. But it's been the status quo in one way or another for decades. Most developing countries in the world are no different. Cronyism, nepotism and personal self interests over the needs of the people. The way of the world. But whenever the situation gets you down just listen to the song "Swamp" by The Talking Heads. You'll be right as rain in no time.

Freezer burn occurs when things kept in the freezer are exposed to air entering the freezer, thus causing moisture to evaporate. This dehydration results in overly dry, discolored patches on the surface. It can occur from opening and closing the freezer door frequently. It's not a huge risk, and vacuum bags help to prevent this, but in Thailand, where the ambient temperature is so hot, I just wouldn't risk it. And really there is no need for the freezer. The fridge is already a really good method to keep the weed from aging once you have the weed sealed in two layers of vacuum bags with all the air inside the bags removed. The biggest risk to weed is mold and fungus which is present in the air. But once in a vacuum bag that is removed from the equation. Then the fridge protects it from the heat in Thailand, the heat being the other factor that causes weed to degrade over time. With air and heat removed by using vacuum bags, and then placed in the fridge, weed can stay as fresh as the day you vacuum bagged it for a very long time. At least 2-3 years.

I wouldn't keep any money in a small Thai financial institution. I would only keep money in the biggest banks in Thailand for safety reasons. Solvency is always a concern with smaller institutions. Lots of people lost lots of money in the crash of 97 with the small financial institutions and finance companies that went bust. Some of them were paying 13% interest at the time on fixed deposits. It seemed too good to be true at that time and it was.

The only better option is a 1 year fixed deposit at a bank that pays around 2.5%. Bangkok Bank offers them. You can check the rates and terms on their website. But all foreigners in Thailand are subject to a 15% withholding tax on all interest earned. So you will lose 15% on any interest that you earn in a Thai bank. Rates are higher in the USA and UK because the central banks have raised interest rates to around 5%. In Thailand the central bank rate is half that. So bank interest rates in Thailand are about half as in the West. But rates in the West will likely fall by 50% this year too when central banks start cutting interest rates.

All that's needed is passport and 90 day reporting form. Nothing else. Even a messenger can do it on your behalf. Don't need to go in person. Make an online booking with immigration for a queue in advance and it should take 10 minutes.

Best method is two layers of vacuum bags and then put it in the fridge. Should last 2-3 years that way. Just need to let it return to room temperature before opening any of the vacuum bags coming out of the fridge to avoid condensation. Freezer is risky. Can cause burns.

All the retail weed shops all pay money to the police already. If many of the shops close down and/or the police start going after the end users it's only going to harm everyone's pocket, including the police. The status quo is already the best case for all interests involved.

People trying to change the law in government would get shuffled to another post before anything would materially change. It's a billion dollar industry now in Thailand. Too much money at stake for a few people to change the game. So, by the end of the year, things will get delayed again for one more reason or another and the so called cannabis bill will never make it to parliament. This is all just lip service in the media for those who want to see them tighten up the law. Perhaps, eventually, a very soft medical use requirement emerges, but where possession of up to 25-50 grams (without a medical certificate) still faces no penalty so that people can still use it at will. The proverbial Thai style loophole. Then the only thing that would change materially would be all the foreigners hanging out and smoking in weed shops in the tourist areas would be reduced. Foreigners could still buy from those shops though with a flimsy medical certificate, but they would have to smoke it a bit more discreetly. The noticeable change in open consumption would only occur in Bangkok, but in the islands there would be no enforcement of any new medical use only law.

One of the main reasons that Bangkok could be underwater by 2030 is the fact that the water from the Chao Phraya river in the city eventually drains out into the ocean. And where the river now meets the ocean is not far away from the city center. It's only about 20 miles from the city center in fact, on the opposite of the river by Rama 2 Road in the direction going out towards Samut Sakhorn and Samut Songkram. At the moment the river is still at a slightly elevated level above the ocean however, as sea levels rise, the ocean will eventually become higher in elevation than the river. When that happens then the river running through Bangkok will struggle to continue to drain out into the ocean as the water will be pushed back by the ocean. During the rainy season, when the river level often rises severely in Bangkok from runoff in the north, the river will eventually flood the city by an area of perhaps at least a 10 mile radius around the rivers edge. So much of the city center could eventually be underwater for months at a time as it was in 2011.

The flood that impacted Bangkok in 2011 was primarily caused by a combination of heavy monsoon rains and the overflow of the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries. Several factors contributed to the severity of the flooding: 1. **Monsoon Rains**: Exceptionally heavy rainfall during the 2011 monsoon season, exacerbated by the influence of weather phenomena such as the La Niña weather pattern, led to widespread flooding in Thailand. 2. **Water Management Practices**: Poor water management practices, including the release of water from dams and reservoirs upstream, contributed to the volume of water flowing into the Chao Phraya River basin, overwhelming the city's drainage and flood control systems. 3. **Urban Development and Infrastructure**: Rapid urbanization and inadequate infrastructure development in Bangkok and surrounding areas increased the city's vulnerability to flooding. Encroachment on natural waterways, insufficient drainage systems, and the paving over of floodplains reduced the area's ability to absorb excess water during heavy rainfall events. 4. **Deforestation and Land Use Changes**: Deforestation and changes in land use, such as the conversion of agricultural land to urban areas, altered natural water cycles and increased runoff, further exacerbating flooding. 5. **Climate Change**: While the direct attribution of individual weather events to climate change can be complex, some studies suggest that climate change may have contributed to the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall and flooding, in the region. Overall, the Bangkok flood of 2011 was a complex event resulting from a combination of natural and human-induced factors, highlighting the importance of comprehensive water management strategies, urban planning, and disaster preparedness measures in mitigating the impact of flooding in highly vulnerable areas like Bangkok. Another contributing factor to the flooding in Bangkok in 2011 was the blockage of canals by garbage and debris. The canals, which are an essential part of Bangkok's drainage system, help channel rainwater away from the city and into the Chao Phraya River. However, due to poor waste management practices and illegal dumping, many of these canals became clogged with garbage, vegetation, and other debris over time. When heavy rains occurred during the 2011 monsoon season, the blocked canals were unable to effectively drain excess water from the city, exacerbating flooding in low-lying areas. The accumulation of garbage and debris in the canals hindered the flow of water and impeded the functioning of the drainage system, leading to prolonged inundation and widespread flooding in Bangkok and surrounding areas. The issue of canal blockage by garbage highlighted the importance of addressing environmental and waste management challenges in urban areas, as well as the need for regular maintenance and cleaning of drainage infrastructure to ensure effective flood mitigation. In the aftermath of the 2011 flood, efforts were made to improve waste management practices and clear blockages from canals to reduce the risk of future flooding events, but it is unknown if 13 years later those efforts are still ongoing or have since been largely forgotten.

More about the flood of 2011: The Bangkok flood of 2011 was a devastating natural disaster caused by heavy monsoon rains and the overflow of the Chao Phraya River. It affected large parts of Thailand, including its capital city, Bangkok. The flood lasted for several months, causing extensive damage to property, infrastructure, and agriculture, and resulted in significant economic losses. The government's response and management of the crisis were heavily criticized, and the event highlighted the vulnerability of the region to flooding and the need for better disaster preparedness and infrastructure. It wreaked havoc that caused widespread damage across various sectors and severely disrupted services and infrastructure. Here is a more detailed summary of the impact of the flood: 1. **Economic Impact**: The flood caused significant economic losses, with estimates ranging from billions to tens of billions of dollars. Industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism were severely affected. Factories, particularly those in industrial estates north of Bangkok, were inundated, disrupting global supply chains and leading to shortages of various goods. The agricultural sector suffered extensive damage to crops, particularly rice, affecting both domestic food supply and exports. 2. **Infrastructure Damage**: Roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure were damaged or rendered impassable in many areas, hindering rescue and relief efforts and impeding the movement of people and goods. The inundation of key transportation hubs, including Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport, disrupted air travel and cargo shipments. 3. **Utilities Disruption**: Floodwaters submerged electrical substations and other utility facilities, leading to widespread power outages and water supply disruptions. This further compounded the challenges faced by residents and businesses, impeding recovery efforts and exacerbating public health concerns. 4. **Displacement and Loss of Life**: Hundreds of people lost their lives due to the floods, and thousands were displaced from their homes. Makeshift shelters and evacuation centers struggled to accommodate the influx of displaced individuals and families, highlighting the need for improved disaster response and management strategies. 5. **Health Risks and Environmental Damage**: The stagnant floodwaters became breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and contaminants, posing significant public health risks. Pollution from industrial facilities and household chemicals further exacerbated environmental concerns, with long-term implications for water quality and ecosystem health. 6. **Impact on Services**: Essential services such as healthcare, education, and public safety were disrupted, affecting the well-being and safety of the population. Hospitals and medical facilities faced challenges in delivering care to patients, while schools and universities were forced to close temporarily, disrupting students' education. Overall, the Bangkok flood of 2011 had far-reaching consequences, highlighting the vulnerabilities of Thailand's infrastructure and the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response measures. The event underscored the importance of investing in resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and community resilience to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters. Also, many of the international factories in Ayuthaya were fully under water and suffered severe loses. Honda also lost hundreds of their cars that were already manufactured and sitting inside their factory compound awaiting delivery to dealerships. Many companies lost all of their valuable factory equipment to water damage and, thus their entire factory operation. Some of the companies affected decided to rebuild their factories in other regional countries like Vietnam instead of risking rebuilding in Thailand where the floods could happen again. Toshiba (and their semiconductor factory in Thailand) is one the big international companies that chose not to reinvest in rebuilding their factory operation and completely pulled out of Thailand.

The last big flood you are probably thinking of, the one that put Nonthaburi, and much of Bangkok under about 2 meters of water, was in 2011. Many foreigners living in Bangkok at that time left the city for at least 6 weeks. Unfortunately not everyone got out in time though and many got trapped. Trucks were driving to large nearby cities like Pattaya to buy up all the bottled drinking water and bring it back to Bangkok where it could be sold at 10X the price. The drinking water factories outside of Bangkok were struggling to keep up with the increased demand. Thousands of crocodiles also escaped the crocodile farms and were lose everywhere. A number of people got accidentally electrocuted from power lines that had gone underwater and weren't visible.

You are obviously gravely uninformed. But you don't have to be. Watch this:

If the future will be in any way based upon past performance then I predict the following: Thailand will continue to develop more mass transit train lines in Bangkok and around the country. Things will continue to get a lot more expensive in general. Things will continue to get much more controlled and bureaucratic. Automation and implementation of technology will continue to advance. Securing long term visas will have more challenging hurdles for foreigners, including higher financial requirements. Problems like traffic and pollution will never be overcome in any meaningful way. Carnage on the roads will never decline. People will continue to get most of their products and food delivered from online services. Eventually retail stores will decline in numbers. There will be a much larger presence of mainland Chinese residing as long term residents in the larger cities in Thailand. The political system of fake democracy and autocratic governance will continue. Foreign organized crime networks will get more entrenched because of police corruption. The oceans around Thailand will continue to get more polluted from garbage dumping. Bangkok will face a real threat of being underwater by 2030 from sea levels rising. A cyclone hitting Bangkok within 10 years is a serious possibility. The temperature will never get any cooler. Thailand will continue claiming to be the hub for everything. And ladyboys will continue to dominate the streets in the lower Sukhumvit Road area after dark.

Since you enjoy worrying about the safety of living in Thailand, here are some more of the hazards you can start losing sleep over: crocodiles, food poisoning, snake bites, balconies with low railings, scorpions, taking a boat, the jet-skii mafia, the women, the soi dogs, taking a swim in the ocean, getting involved in any kind of business, investing in anything, driving a car, taking a night bus, riding a motorcycle, taking a minivan, dengue fever, floods, malaria, paraquat in the produce, hepatitis a/b/c, rabies, drunks, cops, taxi drivers, ambulance drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, hi-so people in cars, hi-so people in bars, scams, air pollution, monitor lizards, two-tier pricing, mother in laws, lady boys, pick pockets, chain snatchers, phone snatchers, tuk-tuk drivers, domesticated elephants, domesticated tigers, tropical diseases, hiv, low hanging power cables, gonorrhea, low hanging roof overhangs, cancerous fluke worms, unhealthy drinking water and tuberculosis.

How long were these clubs like Mystique, Bash, The Tunnel, Chi, Funky Dojo, and Superfly open for? Were any of them around for more than 1-2 years?

Presumably, if you weren't already a customer of the bank, you would've had to go through the standard passport copy and address certification process for new overseas customers, thus requiring your documents to be certified (possibly by a lawyer), unless they offer some form of video call document verification method for this. The no minimum balance is definitely a nice benefit though, same as N26 Bank.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68378807

A good (purely) online bank option for GBP is N26 Bank. https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/n26-now-available-to-everyone-in-the-uk However, you are going to need a verifiable UK address to open this account and most likely you will need to physically be in the UK when you open the account because they will do a video call verification and check your IP address to ensure your in the UK. Otherwise, you can use the account normally once you have the account open and you don't need to stay in the UK. They will provide an ATM card for easy access to the account and send it by post to your UK address. They also have no minimum balance requirements. Can even have a zero balance once the account is open.