Galong

Here's the thing: cannabis gives people the munchies, and that usually means more business for restaurants. Plus, a lot of tourists love that they can enjoy cannabis in Thailand, making it another reason for them to visit. So, if Thailand bans liberal cannabis use, it could make things even tougher for Thai restaurants. It’s a bit of a double whammy, potentially cutting off a source of business and taking away a draw for tourists who come here partly for the cannabis.

The Thai government's push to recriminalize cannabis under the pretext of protecting youth is a masterclass in moral panic policymaking. While real threats to young people, such as abysmal job prospects, rampant road fatalities, alcohol abuse, and cigarette addiction, go largely unaddressed (except for repeated unsuccessful campaigns), cannabis is scapegoated with vague statistics and anecdotal fearmongering. Claims of edibles "accidentally" reaching children ignore the basic fact that these are sold in age-restricted shops, so perhaps the issue lies with negligent parenting, not plant-based gummies. If policymakers want to gut an industry supporting thousands of jobs and attracting tourism, they’d better bring peer-reviewed science, not bedtime stories.

Surely you're not patting yourself on the back for this remark. FYI, one of the most dangerous drugs, according to the Merck (medical) manual, is alcohol. It's legal. It doesn't need to be smuggled.

Every statement he's made is questionable, to put it politely. The fact of the matter is that if he really cared about young people, he'd focus on the things that harm them the most: motorbikes and cigarettes. Pot, unless you're still in the 'Reefer Madness' mindset, is relatively harmless compared to unregulated alcohol, which can make you violent and which is the cause of many road deaths. Consistency in their logic is woefully lacking.

I've always found it curious how certain American expatriates, those who ceaselessly extol the unparalleled virtues of the U.S., choose to live permanently in Thailand. One might wonder: if their homeland is indeed the apex of civilization, what prevents their triumphant return? Perhaps it's the inconvenient reality that repatriation would mean both a stark reduction in romantic prospects and a confrontation with the consequences of poor financial planning. In truth, it’s difficult to find anyone deeply enmeshed in the nationalist echo chamber who appears to be winning at life, unless, of course, you define "winning" as shouting into the void while nursing a Chang or Leo.

That's a silly accusation with zero evidence. "What is a better way?" Gosh, almost anything. A bar should work just as well. Seriously, if you don't have ANY evidence, then please stop making unsubstantiated claims.

OMG, that's some serious science right there. 🤦🤦 What about praying? 🙄😵‍💫 So, it'd be interesting to see how many kids who have measles do everything that you claim prevents infections by dangerous diseases.

Yep, and they can't seem to come up with any statistical facts about any negative impact other than some people are offended by the smell. Basing any of this on it being unhealthy is laughable. Yes, if you smoke it, it's bad for your lungs. Some people prefer edibles. That method has no downside healthwise or on the nasal sensitivity of others. Weed shops are a boon for Thailand in many ways. Many here seem to be stuck in the 'Reefer Madness' era. Pot, in actuality, has few downsides especially if, like me, you prefer edibles over smoking. There is no hangover, so productivity doesn't suffer. High drivers are certainly less dangerous than drunk drivers (I'm not advocating for driving high). Someone mentioned eating a lot of junk food due to the munchies. That's a fictional analysis based on opinions. I crave really good food when I'm affected. There are plenty of people who eat junk food on a regular basis. Go after them in your desire to control people. At the end of the day, this burgeoning industry employs a lot of people, and it makes Thailand more attractive to a lot of visitors, and not everyone who partakes is a 20-something lazy hippie type. They come from all walks of life just like folks who drink.

I eat gummies for medicinal reasons. This also completely avoids me annoying anyone else with smoke. However, my favorite gummies are seemingly no longer available. The shop owner said it was for government reasons. These are rosin-based and fairly strong, therefore, I only require a very small dose. The shop owners said they've only got flowers. Where's the logic in this? They're forcing me to smoke, which I don't like to do for health reasons and which apparently (potentially) annoys other people. To me, it should be the other way around: promote edibles and not smoking.

The Thai government’s focus on complaints about marijuana smoke feels like a manufactured issue compared to the very real, omnipresent nuisances we deal with daily. I live in Phuket Town. Sure, once in a blue moon I catch a whiff of weed. But what’s truly unavoidable? The constant stink of cigarettes and the deafening roar of illegally modified motorbikes echoing through the streets at all hours. These are the real quality-of-life issues. Let’s get real: the actual spaces where someone might smell marijuana smoke are tiny slivers of the island: a few beach bars, designated nightlife zones like Soi Bangla, or tourist-heavy corners of Old Town. And guess what? Families visiting Phuket aren’t accidentally stumbling into these areas; they choose to go where the party is. I was on Soi Bangla a couple of weeks ago. I detest that area, but a friend was having a party on one of the side roads. I saw two families walking with young kids. The touts were holding up signs for sex shows. There are scantily clad dancers in full view of the kids. These were irresponsible parents, period. If we’re cracking down on minor nuisances, maybe start with the stuff that invades every neighborhood and every home: noise and cigarette smoke.

Potential advantages: - Some level of protection for the girls/boys - Legalization could help sex workers have control over their own bodies and finances, rather than being at the mercy of pimps or exploiters - Reduction is human trafficking - There could be regular STD/STI tests - The criminal element would hopefully not be in charge (the government criminal element would take over) - Safer working conditions - Tax revenue - Police could (but probably won't) focus on real crimes

Phi Phi represents one of the worst-case scenarios of totally unregulated tourism. BTW, after the tsunami, the authorities said they wouldn't let folks rebuild in the two main bay which are theoretically national park land. "Something" happened and they were allowed to build back worse than before. I first went in 1993 and got food poisoning from fried rice and vegetables. I went again in about 1997 and got food poisoning from spaghetti with tomato sauce. I went once and didn't get food poisoning.

No updated info here. This was a complete waste of time reading. 🤦

All of my Social Security codes are BTN (Baht Net), which is used when funds are sent via the Bank of Thailand. I did my direct deposit through BKK Bank a bit over 3 years ago. I was assuming, due to so many people telling me, that I wasn't going to be able to get/move money unless I go in person. It turns out, my DD account works the same as my regular deposit account. I can easily move money around. I don't have a card, but I don't want a card. It's strange how the same bank with direct deposit can function differently... I assume the timing of setting up the account is the main factor. I just asked for a 'direct deposit account for my US Soc Sec'. After much wailing and nashing of teeth the main branch in Phuket Town suddenly understood. It was as if they'd never done or heard of this type of account before. It wasn't a language issue. They didn't understand what their own bank offered... and several people got involved. But, at the end of the day, it works smoothly... sort of. 🙄

What time of the day does your transaction usually take place? Looking back, mine are always within a couple of minutes of 10:30 am. I'm guessing you'll get it shortly. Hang in there.