New legislation in Thailand could create a recreational cannabis market worth more than $400m in just a couple of years, according to some estimates. Photograph: Chalinee Thirasupa/Reuters

 

Ideas ranging from wellness spas to profitable farms for rural communities could provide economic boost, say advocates

 

Rebecca Root in Bangkok

 

From Bangkok Hilton to Bridget Jones, Thailand’s reputation as one of the strictest countries in the world for drug offences is well documented. Even cannabis, considered a “less dangerous drug” by the UN, carries the potential for a 15 year prison term. But a recent announcement that it is to be delisted as a narcotic could trigger a transformation in how the drug is used inside Thailand.

 

“A lot of people come here to get their faces fixed with plastic surgery. A lot of people come to do dental work and oral surgery, and for wellness retreats. Within that context, marijuana will integrate beautifully.”

 

So says Carl K Linn, author of a newsletter about cannabis in Thailand, who who sees foreign tourism potential in the delisting of cannabis.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

Thailand’s narcotics board announced in January it would delist cannabis that has a tetrahydrocannabinol level of below 0.2%, making it the first Asian country to do so. Thailand was also the first in south-east Asia to sanction medical use of marijuana in 2018.

 

Anutin Charnvirakul, the public health minister, said that once the delisting comes into effect – 120 days after publication on the Royal Thai Government Gazette website – people will be able to grow cannabis plants at home after notifying their local government.

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/05/thailand-dreams-of-high-end-cannabis-tourism-after-marijuana-is-legalised

 

-- © Copyright The Guardian 2022-04-06

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

From backpackers to potheads, the true quality tourist that will save Thailand.

A pipe dream.

35 minutes ago, Maha Sarakham said:

From backpackers to potheads, the true quality tourist that will save Thailand.

You mean there wont be a party of 150 Indians that came to Thailand for a wedding completely out of their minds on weed on the beach stuffing themselves with 7/11 chocolate at midnight ? 

Bring it on man. 

0.2 %  lol

Legalise prostitution and you'll see many more men tourists flooding Thailand...

and together with legalised pot and Thailand will be a Mecca to many of all sorts...

4 minutes ago, Desmondo69 said:

0.2 %  lol

Exactly.  In places where it is legal, recreational marijuana has THC levels of 10% and higher, usually much higher.  You'd have to smoke your body weight of 0.2% stuff to get a buzz.  Or so I'm told.  ????

Thailand won't have legal recreational marijuana until some well connected hi-so families can dominate the industry.  Just like with alcohol.

Another good idea up in smoke?

14 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Exactly.  In places where it is legal, recreational marijuana has THC levels of 10% and higher, usually much higher.  You'd have to smoke your body weight of 0.2% stuff to get a buzz.  Or so I'm told.  ????

Bit like trying to get drunk on non alcoholic beer innit...id imagine ????

1 hour ago, Maha Sarakham said:

From backpackers to potheads, the true quality tourist that will save Thailand.

Do you or almost anyone posting on here even know what 0.2% even means??  
Since a lot of you have incredible amounts of free time why not google what recreational marijuana is? Also google recreational pot shops in Massachusetts or Colorado. The states in the USA selling recreational marijuana have THC levels often above 25% that's 25.00!! Not 0.25%.  Massachusetts sales of cannabis and cannabis products were over $1.3 billion USD in 2021! That is one very small state not all the states that sell it. No backpacker or pothead ( are you for real or a father from the 1970's) would come to Thailand for 0.2% marijuana.  There are posts like yours on every single article discussing marijuana on this forum. 

17 minutes ago, Desmondo69 said:

Bit like trying to get drunk on non alcoholic beer innit...id imagine ????

Yes. You are one billion percent correct!

Hey man I hear Thailand has high end stuff wanna go?

Sure man but I dont know if I have enough gas

 

That is like throwing a full moon party which only serves non-alchoholic drinks and expecting the crowds to arrive.

 

An average "joint" contains 25% THC and solid blocks range from 70% to 90% THC content.

 

Less than 0.2% has hardly a trace of THC ... so I doubt the potheads will arrive in droves or any-one else for that matter.

 

At the same time, sending confusing messages on legalising cannabis as a drug is only going to create further problems with those who are expecting to find the industry fully legalised and smoking a joint in public acceptable.

 

This is basically a hemp industry and not a marijuana industry. Hemp is less than 0.3% THC content as a class and cannabis (marijuana) is 0.3% and above - so that is still illegal. 

1 minute ago, IamNoone88 said:

That is like throwing a full moon party

This is not an image I want to associate with the future here!

2 hours ago, Maha Sarakham said:

From backpackers to potheads, the true quality tourist that will save Thailand.

With a THC level of 0.2% and below.

No it won't.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin Charnvirakul, the public health minister, said that once the delisting comes into effect – 120 days after publication on the Royal Thai Government Gazette website – people will be able to grow cannabis plants at home after notifying their local government.

And do what with it?

1 hour ago, heybruce said:

Thailand won't have legal recreational marijuana until some well connected hi-so families can dominate the industry.  Just like with alcohol.

Anutin?

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And do what with it?

make rope and sacks?

5 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Anutin?

Well said!

Let's open a franchise of decaffeinated coffee shops! Then we can be the hub of coffee tourism! 

43 minutes ago, sambum said:

49 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Anutin?

Well said!

Who is nutin? ????

30 minutes ago, Karma80 said:

Let's open a franchise of decaffeinated coffee shops! Then we can be the hub of coffee tourism! 

 

That would be a step up, at least decaffeinated coffee has a use.

 

58 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

And do what with it?

Make their own rope!

I suggested years ago on this forum that, rather than fight the prevailing winds, it's better to embrace it and profit from it. Thailand wants more tourism from 'high spenders'. Why would those people with big cash to spend come here with all of the substandard things here. Roads, inconsistent water, electric, and internet infrastructure. TRUE, many of these things have improved over the years, but simply looking at the wires above streets indicates the amount of distance that still remains to be improved. 

 

Here's a novel idea, legalized things here just as Amsterdam does. It encourages tourism, and brings in tourist money. Create controlled zones for "Coffee Houses" for selling and smoking ganja. Open organized prostitution zones, and limit those 'vices' to specific areas, away from the Beach road and Walking Street where all the tourists with families go. Put it all on Soi Bukhao, or some other area that is currently under utilized. So legal in specific areas, but illegal and thus revenue producing for the police in other areas, AND when driving under the influence. To facilitate this, perhaps the Songtaew routes could be expanded to include Third Road. BTW, there's a huge empty lot about 500 meters north of Pattaya Klang on Third Road. Several large buildings that could serve as dance clubs or bars already exist in that area. Embrace the trends and profit from it. Pattaya could become the Amsterdam of SE Asia and generate lots of money and jobs!

From the headline:- "Thailand dreams ........................"

 

Exactly!

Different view of the same argument.
This govt has shown time again that it like to go "step by step" as it makes any significant changes. Cannabis is a great example.

I consider this to be the end of phase 1 - made it legal.

Phase 2 will be to have designated recreational areas, e.g. Phuket where the "best" weed will be available. Promote the hell out of. Thai Sticks and the Golden Triangle. Have shops where you can select your smoke, smoke or take away your smoke, maybe a couple of cold beers and out the door. .2%??? Is that a misprint? No, the most potent weed Thailand can produce.

Then they will come. And I mean a lot will come. Legalize prostitution? That would be nice but really, who cares.

 

Quality or not, these tourists will bring their money and be prepared to spend, especially after a couple of hits on the bong.

where can i buy some of what the OP is obviously smoking..it sure ain't .2% THC.

4 hours ago, Maha Sarakham said:

From backpackers to potheads, the true quality tourist that will save Thailand.

As if there was not already a big enough problem with drunk driving now they are going to add legalized 'pot' to the mix.  Being Under the Influence whether it be alcohol or drugs, legal or not, will just magnify the road carnage issue here.