Thailand Wants to Have Its (Hash) Cake and Eat It Too

[webfact]

Thailand Wants to Have Its (Hash) Cake and Eat It Too

By Natnicha Chuwiruch

 

>> Country will lead the way in Asia to legalize medical cannabis

>> Thailand eyeing a piece of the global medical cannabis market

 

FILE photo

 

Thailand, known for its tough policies against drug trafficking, is taking a page from Canada and other countries and is seeking to lead the way in Asia in legalizing medical marijuana.

 

The reason? It’s largely economic. Thailand, which in the 1980s was one of the world’s top exporters of cannabis, wants to reap the rewards of the $10 billion-dollar-plus marijuana market. As more countries embrace the medicinal qualities of cannabis, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization -- under the Ministry of Public Health -- is trying to persuade the military government to approve studying the drug so it can market it for medical use.

 

“The best strains of cannabis in the world 20 years ago were from Thailand, and now Canada has developed this strain until up to this day, we can’t claim that ours is the best in the world anymore," said Dr. Nopporn Cheanklin, executive managing director of the GPO. “That’s why we must develop our strain to be able to compete with theirs.”

 

Full story: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-16/thailand-looks-to-endorse-medical-pot-yet-keep-anti-drug-laws

 

-- Bloomberg 2018-2018-07-17

[cornishcarlos]

Oh geez... Every Somchai from Hat Yai to Chiang Mai is gonna be chopping down all their rubber and palm, making way for the new super crop !!!

 

I guess that might push rubber prices back up a little ??

[kannot]

18 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

Oh geez... Every Somchai from Hat Yai to Chiang Mai is gonna be chopping down all their rubber and palm, making way for the new super crop !!!

 

I guess that might push rubber prices back up a little ??

if they aint stoned out of their minds to be bothered and I wouldnt  call the  Thai work ethic  the best anyway

[robblok]

2 hours ago, kannot said:

if they aint stoned out of their minds to be bothered and I wouldnt  call the  Thai work ethic  the best anyway

Stoned / drunk what is the difference.. stoned is a bit less damaging for your health and your less prone to violence. You won't see topics like pensioner in bar fight.. but more like pensioner assaults pizza. I would say the latter is better. 

 

I doubt the work ethic differs much between a junkie and an alcoholic. 

 

Too bad this is only for medical use. 

[mikebell]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand, known for its tough policies against drug trafficking

Smoke and mirrors.  There's a thriving trade here much of it condoned by those responsible for the tough policies.

[grumbleweed]

Only for medical purposes?

I can see a market for marijuana curable sicknesses developing

[Oziex1]

Invest in Pizza delivery.

[yellowboat]

Why did the best strains come from Thailand ?  Because such cultivation takes patience.  A Thai trait that deserves far more praise.  Such cultivation should be of 1980's standards and farmers should be allowed to take part.

[PatOngo]

This country has had a slice of the global market for decades.

[nausea]

Not everybody's gonna be marijuana happy:

 

"The legalization of medical marijuana in some U.S. states has led to a decline in revenue for pharmaceutical companies for pain relievers and sleep aids." (Original article)

 

And if it ever goes mainstream I imagine the alcohol industry will be less than euphoric.

[bobbin]

“The best strains of cannabis in the world 20 years ago were from Thailand, and now Canada has developed this strain until up to this day, we can’t claim that ours is the best in the world anymore," said Dr. Nopporn Cheanklin, executive managing director of the GPO. “That’s why we must develop our strain to be able to compete with theirs.”

 

Cannabis World Cup 2020...  ?

 

Let the strain wars begin.. 

[Classic Ray]

Most of the skunk growers in the U.K. seem to use Vietnamese labour, so maybe a chance to compete with them.

 

I am sure Thai farming skills are equally developed, Issaan could become a world hub.

[BEngBKK]

Do people know that Mechical Hash have had the THC removed, so you wont get high on it .........

[sykray]

Medicinal cannabis oil is not about THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound in cannabis that gives the high recreational feeling.  Medicinal cannabis oil is about extracting CBD (cannabidoil), which does not give a high.  However, it must be granted that there will be a small quantity of THC in medicinal oil but one would have to consume a large volume of oil to get high.

[robblok]

52 minutes ago, nausea said:

Not everybody's gonna be marijuana happy:

 

"The legalization of medical marijuana in some U.S. states has led to a decline in revenue for pharmaceutical companies for pain relievers and sleep aids." (Original article)

 

And if it ever goes mainstream I imagine the alcohol industry will be less than euphoric.

That is for sure who do you think are holding it back .. those interests.

[55Jay]

2 hours ago, robblok said:

You won't see topics like pensioner in bar fight.. but more like pensioner assaults pizza.

They ARE prone to violence, it's called Refer Madness, usually takes hold about 1 hour after smoking the Devil's Weed, and can result in far worse than mere assault.  

 

Case in point, an Englishman I knew danced with the devil one night. 

With red, glassy eyes and an evil grin on his face, I watched in absolute shock and horror as he mass murdered an entire pizza on his own, reveling in it like Hannibal Lecter, greedy hands and mouth covered in the victim's life blood and bits of pepperoni flesh. 

I nervously asked him for some, thinking he would lash out at me in selfish anger, but he replied, "Of course, mate!" , piled 3 slices on my plate, laughed heartily, then bought me a beer!  ? 

[Small Joke]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Smoke and mirrors.  There's a thriving trade here much of it condoned by those responsible for the tough policies.

I know a girl, who knows a poor little rich girl... let's just say you're pretty spot on in that assumption.

[CLW]

Not everybody's gonna be marijuana happy:
 
"The legalization of medical marijuana in some U.S. states has led to a decline in revenue for pharmaceutical companies for pain relievers and sleep aids." (Original article)
 
And if it ever goes mainstream I imagine the alcohol industry will be less than euphoric.

I've attended cannabis conferences in Europe and looked at the list of attendees.

Was surprised about the Thai delegation.
Thailand Tobacco Monopoly
Boonrawd Ltd. (which owns Singha)

Clever businesses participate in new trends instead of depressing them.

[Thingamabob]

Thai strains were always the best. Hopefully will be the best again soon.

[Small Joke]

Has everyone forgotten that General Paiboon,  former drug Czar,  and since promoted to the Palace level, declared Thailand's war on drugs lost over 2 years ago, and suggested a harm reduction approach vs current criminalization. 

Cannabis is a gateway drug... But only to the fall of all prohibition eventually. 

The only way to stop criminal enterprise is to legalise, and dispense responsibly, like alcohol.

We forget alcohol OD can kill as effectively as any drug,  alcohol can addict MORE effecively than most,  and causes violent behavior. Why is it not demonized like the others then? Moral panic.  And fear and ignorance of the facts that relate to addiction, and reasons people use,  and will always use. 

The Royal College of Surgeons UK and the BMJ have called for total legalization across the board.  I'd suggest they know more about 'dangerous' drugs than most. 

It can't come quickly enough. 

  

Edited July 17, 2018 by Small Joke

[Small Joke]

30 minutes ago, CLW said:

I've attended cannabis conferences in Europe and looked at the list of attendees.

Was surprised about the Thai delegation.
Thailand Tobacco Monopoly
Boonrawd Ltd. (which owns Singha)

Clever businesses participate in new trends instead of depressing them.

Yeah, big tobacco quietly moved into the internet in the late nineties (Phillip Morris built a lot of the T1 fiber undersea cable then).  Investing in Cannabis just makes sense for them. A lawyer friend suggests the tipping point has not yet been reached where legalizing is MORE profitable than the war,  but it's all about the money.  Unlike the stooges at media manipulation level, who've been fed the 'drugs mmm bad mmkay' propaganda,  the elite know the score. 

[watcharacters]

6 hours ago, cornishcarlos said:

I guess that might push rubber prices back up a little ??

 

Now that's what I call a positive spin to an otherwise bleak situation.

[CLW]

Yeah, big tobacco quietly moved into the internet in the late nineties (Phillip Morris built a lot of the T1 fiber undersea cable then).  Investing in Cannabis just makes sense for them. A lawyer friend suggests the tipping point has not yet been reached where legalizing is MORE profitable than the war,  but it's all about the money.  Unlike the stooges at media manipulation level, who've been fed the 'drugs mmm bad mmkay' propaganda,  the elite know the score. 

That's what I am concerned for Thailand. If it comes to any kind of commercialisation the big players likely to siphon out all the money leaving SMEs and Thai farmers poor as ever.

[jenny2017]

“That’s why we must develop our strain to be able to compete with theirs.”

 

  Unbelievable. They don't seem to know how they developed certain cultures in an unnatural way. 

 

   Thainess at its best. 

 

 

[jenny2017]

32 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Thai strains were always the best. Hopefully will be the best again soon.

The time of Thai sticks is way over. 

[Small Joke]

9 minutes ago, CLW said:

12 minutes ago, Small Joke said:

Yeah, big tobacco quietly moved into the internet in the late nineties (Phillip Morris built a lot of the T1 fiber undersea cable then).  Investing in Cannabis just makes sense for them. A lawyer friend suggests the tipping point has not yet been reached where legalizing is MORE profitable than the war,  but it's all about the money.  Unlike the stooges at media manipulation level, who've been fed the 'drugs mmm bad mmkay' propaganda,  the elite know the score. 

That's what I am concerned for Thailand. If it comes to any kind of commercialisation the big players likely to siphon out all the money leaving SMEs and Thai farmers poor as ever.

I'd venture it may not be so grim. It's not like rice where you just chuck it in a wet patch. Good weed will need sophisticated breeding for specific highs.  This is what non users don't understand,  the sublimity of the high based on the properties of a strain. Commercial interests will see the best bud fetch prices like Single Malts. The nature of bud also means once legal, home grows will be everywhere too. And even if they ban home grows,  there will be the back door trades at night market's the way Levi's are sold off the back of the factory trucks right now. 555

[CanuckThai]

Deleted post

 

Edited July 17, 2018 by CanuckThai

[CantSpell]

10 billions $ market...

Studies will be done fast and laws passed in a week for sure...

 

New watches have been ordered already ... $$$$$$.. ?

 

 

[Small Joke]

7 minutes ago, jenny2017 said:

The time of Thai sticks is way over. 

Don't worry,  growers in the west have quietly been keeping the dream alive, and not only that, improving on it. There's a doco on Netflix that followed a Colorado team into equatorial Africa to find a fabled strain. Boy did they jump through some hoops getting their seeds. 

The worm has turned, this is gonna be yuge. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Berkshire]

Well this is one "hub" idea I'm all for.