Author: Pascal Tanguay, Bangkok

 

For the past four years, the Thai government has been making legislative reforms to build a market for medical cannabis. With the potential to reap significant economic benefits and help patients in need, the question remains — will the government prioritise profits or patients?

 

Although those two objectives are not necessarily mutually exclusive, it is important to understand the motivations behind the reforms so that policymakers can balance both aspects. Evidence increasingly shows that health is a public good that is too important to be managed by market forces, especially given that profiteering is at odds with public health principles.

 

In January 2017, hemp (fibre from the cannabis plant stem) was decriminalised in a pilot project by Thailand’s Narcotics Control Board. In December 2018, Thailand’s National Assembly unanimously voted for amending national laws in favour of medical cannabis. In February 2019, cannabis and hemp extracts were removed from state control and products containing hemp were reclassified in August 2019.

 

Full story: https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/05/13/can-medical-cannabis-in-thailand-balance-profits-and-patients/

 

-- © Copyright East Asia Forum 2021-05-14

 

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Interesting article; members should go read the full text.

 

That said, the focus seems to be trying to persuade that the medical side of weed should be prioritized over the commercial side, and I would argue that that is a false choice; both sides have valid objectives and both sides are valid economic opportunities.

 

The purely medical/therapeutic side of using weed is quite clear and has been demonstrated in many counties around the world for many years now. Thailand should increase the use government funds for research to enhance and promote medicines derived from the plant, as well as strengthening the marketing aspect of those medicines; the goal should be, in medical circles in Asia, to develop a brand name like 'Swiss Chocolate' or 'German Engineering' or 'Canadian Maple Syrup'.

 

The commercial medical reasons for this are already clear;

 

" The market value of cannabis in Thailand is estimated to be between US$660 million and US$2.5 billion by 2024." 

 

However, the above is merely half the market; the Thai government should immediately explore and establish a recreational use market, complete with weed shops, regulations, taxes and the like. Simply put, the medical market is valuable to Thailand in a time where they need enhanced economic prospects, but the recreational use market is also a giant economic opportunity. Some country in Asia will be the first to allow recreational use, and the first country to do so will have great advantages in what will become a multi-billion dollar market on the continent. If you set the initial rules, create the first laws, establish the first guidelines, then you can play to your strengths as others will certainly follow your lead. Thailand has the opportunity to create conditions favourable to itself that others will follow and become the instant leader of the latest economic boom.

 

The arguments in favour of legalization and establishment of a recreational use market are overwhelming; the first country that does it will make a multi-billion dollar killing. The second will simply be an 'also-ran'.

 

C'mon Thailand; you like money, you desperately need to chill a bit, and you'll actually be a 'Hub'.

 

Win, win win.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 13, 20215 yr by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

Unban the bong!Thailand the bongcloud hub of asia!

Agree with Samui Bodoh...it's a no- brainer. Thailand, unleash the Magic Dragon ????

One has the feeling that this will be exorbitantly priced.

3 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Unban the bong!Thailand the bongcloud hub of asia!

Explode the tourism problem in a flash. 

13 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

the goal should be, in medical circles in Asia, to develop a brand name like 'Swiss Chocolate' or 'German Engineering' or 'Canadian Maple Syrup'.

or Thai Stick.

32 minutes ago, oobar said:

or Thai Stick.

Cannabab?What a top idea, excellent!

It was always about profits.  Doctors are still loathe to give it to anyone but those near death.  So I imagine they will be seeking export revenue streams.  And here in Prathet Greed?  Tiny, tiny bottle, big big price.  If a doctor will give it to you.  Thai doctors are still in the dark ages of palliative care.

This was never about alleviating the suffering of Thai or providing alternate income streams via cannabis cultivation for the average Thai.  It was about legally opening the cannabis trade to established, wealthy, and connected Thai individuals.  And it's still very illegal for Somchai Joe Average to grow cannabis.  All Thais got were a bunch of lies (every family will be able to grow 6 plants like any other household herb) so that the public would buy into the scam on themselves.  This was only meant for Friends of Anutin and other elites. 
"Sorry Somchai.  You grow plant, RTP throw you in jail."

Edited May 14, 20215 yr by connda

8 hours ago, connda said:

It was always about profits.  Doctors are still loathe to give it to anyone but those near death.  So I imagine they will be seeking export revenue streams.  And here in Prathet Greed?  Tiny, tiny bottle, big big price.  If a doctor will give it to you.  Thai doctors are still in the dark ages of palliative care.

This was never about alleviating the suffering of Thai or providing alternate income streams via cannabis cultivation for the average Thai.  It was about legally opening the cannabis trade to established, wealthy, and connected Thai individuals.  And it's still very illegal for Somchai Joe Average to grow cannabis.  All Thais got were a bunch of lies (every family will be able to grow 6 plants like any other household herb) so that the public would buy into the scam on themselves.  This was only meant for Friends of Anutin and other elites. 
"Sorry Somchai.  You grow plant, RTP throw you in jail."

As usual many Thai couldn't give a flying monkey's tit what those numbskulls say.Some nice solid heathy buds on this one I spotted not long ago. 

 

My farmer neighbor is now selling weed to people he knows and it seems that more and more are doing it, so cool !

 

7 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

As usual many Thai couldn't give a flying monkey's tit what those numbskulls say.Some nice solid heathy buds on this one I spotted not long ago. 

 

 

 

same here !

 

 

12 minutes ago, thto said:

My farmer neighbor is now selling weed to people he knows and it seems that more and more are doing it, so cool !

 

It is cool and who would have thunk it?