What Thailand’s Legalization of Marijuana Means for Southeast Asia's War on Drugs

[webfact]

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by Chad de Guzman

 

Southeast Asia, a region of 11 countries and some 680 million people, has long been infamous for having the strictest anti-drug laws in the world. But in a sign that regional leaders are mulling a new approach, Thailand became the first country in Asia last week to decriminalize marijuana for medical and other purposes. Smoking weed for fun is still illegal, Thai’s health minister clarified to CNN, but he expects legal cannabis production to boost the economy. Over 3,000 inmates incarcerated in Thai prisons for marijuana-related offenses were also freed.

 

This, coupled with changes to Thailand’s Narcotics Code last December to include alternatives to imprisonment for drug offenders, are signs that the country is slowly abandoning its strict drug policies, says Gloria Lai, regional director of the International Drug Policy Consortium. Lai tells TIME that Thailand’s government has recognized the problem of locking up so many people, most of them poor, for low-level offenses.

 

Thailand has the largest prison population among ASEAN countries—some 285,000 people—and more than 80% of inmates are there on drug-related charges. There are major issues of overcrowding at Thai prisons.

 

Full story: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/what-thailand-s-legalization-of-marijuana-means-for-southeast-asia-s-war-on-drugs/ar-AAYsuKN?ocid=EMMX&cvid=b76b8e5485ef475b8c32d61c62e4298c

 

TIME

-- 2022-06-15

[pokerface1]

I wouldn't be surprised if the next move will be the opening of the Marijuana sandbox on one of the popular tourist islands where it's legal to bong on. 

[internationalism]

ganja and kratom were traditional herbs used wildly till 60-ties, when under the USA pressure they became illegal.

Both of them stop people from using hard drugs, which are real dangerous.

Just shame that bhumjai mafia party will benefit politically and financially from pushing production for domestic market and export.

Surely there is huge popular interest in all social groups. It will become part of thai culture again, after some 50 years.

So many forum members admitted recently for smoking and growing their own.  

I think ganja is widespread in cambodia, laos and burma, supposedly some supplies are coming from there. If not their authoritarian governments, ganja would be legalised there before yet before thailand. They will follow thailand's trail, even for attracting tourism. Muslim countries will lag behind

Edited June 15, 2022 by internationalism

[Jimbo2014]

The war on drugs, kicked off by the Nixon regime to crush the anti war protest movement.   What a failed, horrible, long, loss of life and resources which would have been far better spent on liberalizing drugs, education, social services and treatment.  

[whereyougo]

Smoking for fun is still illegal? 

That would mean cafes may need to shut 

[vandeventer]

28 minutes ago, whereyougo said:

Smoking for fun is still illegal? 

That would mean cafes may need to shut 

So is under age drinking but kids are doing it everyday.

[Excel]

30 minutes ago, whereyougo said:

Smoking for fun is still illegal? 

That would mean cafes may need to shut 

More like an open invitation to the RTP to extort even more money in order to let them open.