Is Thailand creating a Cannabis tourism empire?

[webfact]

 

by Michael Bridge

 

The government has said the people in Thailand can now grow cannabis plants in their homes and even sell the crop after the nation removed marijuana from its banned narcotics list.

 

Thailand is the first country to endorse such a move in South-East Asia, a region normally known for its stringent drug laws.

 

Now it would be fair to say the government’s policies are still not clear, which is often the case when they announce new laws.

 

So people will need to be a bit wary at first.

 

However we have already seen a large number of Cannabis cafes and restaurants sprouting up around the resorts and across Bangkok.

 

A cup of cannabis tea however is unlikely to get you running to buy a box of Mars bars.

 

The government’s aim is by developing a local cannabis trade, they expect it to boost agriculture and tourism.

 

"It is an opportunity for people and the state to earn income from marijuana and hemp," said Anutin Charnvirakul, deputy prime minister and health minister.

 

Giving seedlings away

 

They are even giving away one million cannabis seedlings to citizens to encourage pick-up.

 

Not sure if it will catch on with the Golden Triangle.

 

This is the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers.

 

It remains one of the world’s major sources of illicit drugs, a top Thai police chief has confirmed,

He says that illegal operations in this region include opium production and heroin manufacture.

 

However, in recent years the cultivation of the opium poppy in Myanmar has constantly decreased.

 

While the production of synthetic drugs in the Golden Triangle has been on the rise, especially methamphetamine tablets (yaba) and crystal meth (“ice”).

 

Medical benefits

 

Cannabis is of course being touted as a remedy to cure several medical conditions and can also assist with helping people to sleep too.

 

With the correct medical reasons and a recent medical test report, patients can get supplies of various strengths of cannabis oil. They even supply a certificate in case you need to show the police too.

 

Not sure if Bangkok will turn into a Cannabis capital such as Amsterdam, but now any incentive to attract international tourists will please the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

 

So currently Thai homeowners will be able to cultivate up to six cannabis pot plants at home if they register with authorities, and companies can also farm the plant with a permit.

 

Restaurants will be able to offer cannabis-infused menus and clinics across the country freely can also more freely offer cannabis as a treatment.

 

And businesses will be ample to export cannabis oil and items made of hemp too.

 

 

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[garyk]

The empire strikes back.. 

[Captain Monday]

How does this work with the road-side <deleted> tests do the kits not test for 

ganja? The dreaded "purple" should be reserved as a result of illicit drugs.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

No, they have already screwed it all up!!!!

[Onerak]

It will encourage more scams. 

[Tarteso]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

any incentive to attract international tourists will please the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

 

 

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Not sure if Bangkok will turn into a Cannabis capital such as Amsterdam, but now any incentive to attract international tourists will please the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Or deter them !! 

[bristolgeoff]

From what i know many thais smoke cannabis,all over thailand.Making it legal to have plants growing.Parts of amercia also have the same.Nothing about  making it a tourist hotspot,some will indulge of course,others will not.I may be wrong  but only thais will be allowed to go a plant or 2,the farang will be a no no

[jacko45k]

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Or deter them !! 

It all seems to be rushing along very fast picking up speed.....

The hype simply on this forum surprises me with multiple threads on the topic.

What is all the fuss about...... the older generation have been chewing on betel for many years and being a bit spaced out!

[spidermike007]

It might help to attract an extra 10,000 tourists a month. Maybe. And let us not forget, these tourists that it attracts are the polar opposite of the type of tourist that they have been wanting to attract. A form of surrender? 

[Denim]

Empire no, hub much more probable. Something that can be lauded and hailed until the buffalo comes home.

[HaoleBoy]

"It is an opportunity for people and the state to earn income from marijuana and hemp," said Anutin Charnvirakul

 

This is not marijuana as the rest of the world knows, but only hemp at 0.2% THC.  This is a joke and has not medical or other potential with this very weak strain of THC.

In California the THC of recreational "weed" is 20% - 33% THC.  I'm not sure what level of THC the medical grade is in the various US states that allow "medical marijuana".

[vandeventer]

59 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

 

 

Yes I seem many of this type in 1969 when I got out of the service. They were all over the world smoking everything and anything. I met family's of these so called Hippies in Katmandu with no intension of leaving. There were quite a few places where you can sit down and have something to eat or drink  or buy some grass and smoke it there. Most of these places in Katmandu were run by kids I still remember them chopping the grass up. A whole new world for some.

[ezzra]

This is a true story , A Thai friend who owes me big chunk of money want to pay me in kind with 3 kg marijuana leaves he cultivated in his house, any ideas what to do with such offer?...

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, ezzra said:

This is a true story , A Thai friend who owes me big chunk of money want to pay me in kind with 3 kg marijuana leaves he cultivated in his house, any ideas what to do with such offer?...

Leaves have no value.

Flowers have value depending on plant strain.

 

[Sydebolle]

If you work on percentages, you better prepare Thailand for the avalanche of Indian tourists. If every thousandth pottie in India boards a plane to the East and gets off at Swampi or Don Meuaiong airport? 

Is that the actual reason why the "seeing" and "happening" of the ladyboy thefts along Pattaya's beach road skyrocketed? Just asking ...........

[BritManToo]

40 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

It might help to attract an extra 10,000 tourists a month. Maybe. And let us not forget, these tourists that it attracts are the polar opposite of the type of tourist that they have been wanting to attract. A form of surrender? 

All my middle class professional friends in the UK smoked MJ or snorted cocaine.

We always used to say, "snorting cocaine is god's way of saying you earn too much"

I would have thought they were exactly the kind of tourists Thailand wanted.

[Classic Ray]

Any enforcement of the 0.2% THC limit will be a nightmare given the skill levels currently exhibited. Low contents plants look identical to high content plants 

 

The cork has come out of the bottle and I predict the country will become much more chilled and relaxed, but that road deaths will increase due to intoxication levels.

[jacko45k]

11 minutes ago, ezzra said:

This is a true story , A Thai friend who owes me big chunk of money want to pay me in kind with 3 kg marijuana leaves he cultivated in his house, any ideas what to do with such offer?...

I would prefer cash......

Would you take payment in old nuts and bolts?

[stoner]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Leaves have no value.

Flowers have value depending on plant strain.

 

sugar leaves are very valuable

[stoner]

the vast majority of the weed grown here is garbage. only a few sources of quality. other than that its imported. 

[Tarteso]

22 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

Yes I seem many of this type in 1969 when I got out of the service. They were all over the world smoking everything and anything. I met family's of these so called Hippies in Katmandu with no intension of leaving. There were quite a few places where you can sit down and have something to eat or drink  or buy some grass and smoke it there. Most of these places in Katmandu were run by kids I still remember them chopping the grass up. A whole new world for some.

Who knows if..with the current and future wars, another generation of new hippies will come. Like in Vietnam, korea Afg..????

[John Maxida]

If psychoactive marijuana is not allowed, there will be no tourism boom.
People are far from stupid enough to revel in grass tea or fiber salad.

[Orinoco]

34 minutes ago, ezzra said:

This is a true story , A Thai friend who owes me big chunk of money want to pay me in kind with 3 kg marijuana leaves he cultivated in his house, any ideas what to do with such offer?...

Tell him to sell the gear and give you the money.

 

[WinterGael]

1 hour ago, bristolgeoff said:

From what i know many thais smoke cannabis,all over thailand.Making it legal to have plants growing.Parts of amercia also have the same.Nothing about  making it a tourist hotspot,some will indulge of course,others will not.I may be wrong  but only thais will be allowed to go a plant or 2,the farang will be a no no

Not Thai, stay away from it.  My neighbour's nephew, who is a policeman advised me of that.  

[Bert got kinky]

1 hour ago, bristolgeoff said:

From what i know many thais smoke cannabis,all over thailand.Making it legal to have plants growing.Parts of amercia also have the same.Nothing about  making it a tourist hotspot,some will indulge of course,others will not.I may be wrong  but only thais will be allowed to go a plant or 2,the farang will be a no no

 

Have you not seen what has been happening over the past week?

Despite the original intention of the law and tales of 0.2%, shops and established businesses are openly advertising and selling high strength cannabis, with shops trying their best to supply the highest % over the top of the intended law.

Thailand currently is now an open market for trouble free cannabis and it does not look like it will be going away.

Tourists will flock here, Its quickly becoming the safest place to have a toke in the region.

Now that travel is opening up again, Thailand's tourism industry will quickly bounce back, aided with the extra tourists who want to chill on their holidays but prefer a warmer climate  than Amsterdam.

The better night life and adult industry may also play a part.

 

Other local countries may in the future follow Thailand, after they realize that there is a drop in their visitors, whereas Thailand is booming.

However, that will be some time in the future, these things take time and there are enough dinosaurs running countries.

 

[FriendlyFarang]

Why would anybody come to Thailand for cannabis with less than 0.2% THC?

[vandeventer]

53 minutes ago, ezzra said:

This is a true story , A Thai friend who owes me big chunk of money want to pay me in kind with 3 kg marijuana leaves he cultivated in his house, any ideas what to do with such offer?...

Find new friends!!!

[Bert got kinky]

7 minutes ago, FriendlyFarang said:

Why would anybody come to Thailand for cannabis with less than 0.2% THC?

 

[jacko45k]

12 minutes ago, FriendlyFarang said:

Why would anybody come to Thailand for cannabis with less than 0.2% THC?

I am perplexed if they are coming to Thailand simply for cannabis!