RTP chief admits Thai police are virtually powerless to stop weed use - no arrests at all so far

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported on a high level RTP video conference to all 88 police stations in the Bangkok metropolitan area chaired by RTP chief Pol Gen Suwat Changyodsuk at met HQ yesterday.

 

The story revealed once again how the Thai authorities have been caught completely off guard by legalization last month, notes ASEAN NOW. 

 

Also at the meeting was met chief Pol Lt-Gen Samran Nuanma, RTP deputy Samrongsak Kittipraphat and a host of other top brass and spokesmen.

 

On the agenda was marijuana, street protests and Suwat's personal baby, the Smart Safety Zone project.

 

But the press was only interested in marijuana that is the hot topic in Thailand right now since legalization on June 9th. A house committee is still grappling with the actual Cannabis Act so apart from limiting extracts with more than 0.2% THC, there really is no law in place specifically to stop the sale of weed. 

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Only MoPH rules related to public annoyance from smoke and selling to minors and some people like pregnant women. 

 

Chief Suwat admitted that he was concerned about marijuana but his men were obliged to follow the law. And there simply wasn't grounds for them to stop the sale of weed.

 

He urged calm in the circumstances as the house committee continues its deliberations and the police themselves get to grips with what they can and can't do. 

 

Regarding people smoking openly in Sathorn Soi 4 the police were looking at the law but no action had yet been taken.

 

Regarding goings on in the Chana Songkram area - clearly a reference to Khao San Road - there were moves to stop people selling because they did not have permits to trade on the street from the local district (Phra Nakhon).

 

Rounding up what the police have done since legalization on June 9th Pol Lt-Gen Sarayuth Sanguanphokhai said not a single arrest has happened.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

Maj-Gen Trairong Phiwphan, a legal expert on the force, said that people couldn't smoke bongs or joints in public because that would be forbidden by Ministry of Public Health rules on annoyance. 

 

ASEAN NOW suggests that this is also unclear when it comes to marijuana take-aways. Many places are selling rolled joints but some are not, citing that it is forbidden by law, according to our own investigations. 

 

In a nutshell, the legalization has been a complete farce with the RTP left between a rock and a hard place - that is between people wanting to smoke outside their homes (some cafes are allowing this in the capital) and those who want tighter control on the drug.

 

The Bhumjaithai party list MP heading the Cannabis Act deliberations is being interviewed daily for his views by a Thai press obsessed by the issue. 

 

An almighty can of worms has been opened, suggests ASEAN NOW, revealing that politicians who favored legalization have been caught completely on the hop and are now expecting others to come with the mess they have created. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-01

 

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[worgeordie]

Another potential money maker taken away from

the Police , with the legalization of weed , what to do now......

regards worgeordie

[Karma80]

I think the police got thrown under the bus on this. The government failed to legislate it properly before Anutin decided to shoot his fat gob off to prove he's next PM material.
Weed is a massive recreational drug industry and there will be, and likely are, many hustlers and entrepreneurs looking for action in this space. Boundaries will be tested and that's not going to end well. TIT, not California.

Edited July 2, 2022 by Karma80

[San Fran Dan]

38 minutes ago, Karma80 said:

I think the police got thrown under the bus on this. The government failed to legislate it properly before Anutin decided to shoot his fat gob off to prove he's next PM material.
Weed is a massive recreational drug industry and there will be, and likely are, many hustlers and entrepreneurs looking for action in this space. Boundaries will be tested and that's not going to end well. TIT, not California.

Don’t be ridiculous, No arrests , Nothing , Why beer drinkers think their is a Competition get over yourselves 

[San Fran Dan]

Thailand Great Move , Thanks for being Progressive….

[Dogmatix]

"Chief Suwat admitted that he was concerned about marijuana but his men were obliged to follow the law. And there simply wasn't grounds for them to stop the sale of weed."

 

If it's not illegal why the concern? Cutting into his income stream? Maybe Thai kids will switch from yaa baa to weed and police income for mansions, luxury cars and overseas educations for their brats will take another nosedive.  

 

[robblok]

Its great that its legal only old fossils with outdated ideas are against it.

 

Simple things like not selling to kids seems a no brainer (same goes for alcohol)

 

But its far less damaging then alcohol so its a blessing. Now they publicize some bad things happening (like the fake death on weed by a guy with a heart problem and no THC in his blood). Research has shown weed is better. Its not innocent but just safer.

 

Now they do have to check about weed and driving because that is indeed a weak point. But given how well they check for alcohol and driving I dont expect much.

 

I love weed for my back, if i take some at night i sleep well and my back does not hurt when i wake up. Its actually something that is useful especially compared to alcohol. Now the only downside is overuse (as with any drug and alcohol). For me it also kills diet but if i take it at night just before sleep for my back i dont have a problem.

 

If i take it early i better lock my phone away or junk food will be ordered.

[Reposed]

 

2 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Another potential money maker taken away from

the Police , with the legalization of weed , what to do now......

 

In other news, the police have given up trying and have now started smoking dope to cope, to the point that General Suwat has changed his name to General Sowhat.

 

When asked for further comments, Sowhat said, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha............

 

[peter zwart]

They can still make money out of it as there are shops that allowing smoking in their shop. This is a legal grey area so just ask some brown envelopes to look the other way. Everybody happy.

[vivananahuahin]

read my words it will be only with medical advise en order from hospitals.

[n00dle]

5 minutes ago, vivananahuahin said:

read my words it will be only with medical advise en order from hospitals.

nope, too many powerful people have gotten behind recreational sales. its not going away.

[Mr Meeseeks]

11 minutes ago, n00dle said:

nope, too many powerful people have gotten behind recreational sales. its not going away.

Correct, and tens of thousands probably more like hundreds of thousands are now growing for recreational use and a second income stream at home.

 

Thousands of businesses are now openly using it and selling it.

 

Loads of people are sending me pictures of their plants, people that I thought would never be into it.  I even found an employee growing cannabis last week at one of my businesses, who was politely told he can't do that on company premises.

 

Too late to roll it back now.

[connda]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Chief Suwat admitted that he was concerned about marijuana but his men were obliged to follow the law. And there simply wasn't grounds for them to stop the sale of weed.

Then let it go.  Stop being wired to arrest people.  The law has changed.  Accept it.  Spend the extra time and manpower on pursuing real criminals.  Not some pothead.

[MrJ2U]

Good.

 

I think they'll realize Marijuana legalization will lead to more effective use of the police force.

 

Definitely no lack of serious crime that would be better making arrests for. 

[robblok]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Correct, and tens of thousands probably more like hundreds of thousands are now growing for recreational use and a second income stream at home.

 

Thousands of businesses are now openly using it and selling it.

 

Loads of people are sending me pictures of their plants, people that I thought would never be into it.  I even found an employee growing cannabis last week at one of my businesses, who was politely told he can't do that on company premises.

 

Too late to roll it back now.

That is a good thing, time for the alcohol lovers to accept that cannabis is no longer looked down on. Plus it actually is safer.

 

Your totally right that you don't let an employee grow cannabis on your premises. I think my landlady would not like it if i started growing it.  

 

Personally i like it for my backpain at night, but i get a tendency to use it to early at night at times and then.. Dieet is gone. So im trying to not do that. Because the moment I get a buzz, I order icecream or other bad stuff with grab.

 

So while i don't think its bad for me its has a serious downside. But the sleeping part is heaven. Instead of waking up countless times at night i can make a full night sleep and wake up fresh.

[Reposed]

6 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Correct, and tens of thousands probably more like hundreds of thousands are now growing for recreational use and a second income stream at home.

 

Thousands of businesses are now openly using it and selling it.

 

Loads of people are sending me pictures of their plants, people that I thought would never be into it.  I even found an employee growing cannabis last week at one of my businesses, who was politely told he can't do that on company premises.

 

Too late to roll it back now.

Haha.

[Nickelbeer]

I am frankly amazed that they released all those they locked up for ganja use. That is acting like a first-world country. This, at least will make jails and prisons slightly more comfortable.

[Sydebolle]

Well, in the past they got activated only, if the manila envelope was not filled properly ???? 

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

He urged calm in the circumstances as the house committee continues its deliberations and the police themselves get to grips with what they can and can't do. 

Ask Anutin, this was his baby which he railroaded through without a care in the world.

Coming from a so called health minister he should be dismissed.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Another potential money maker taken away from

the Police , with the legalization of weed , what to do now......

regards worgeordie

Where there's a will there's a way.

[zzzzz]

17 hours ago, n00dle said:

nope, too many powerful people have gotten behind recreational sales. its not going away.

Agree;

EXCEPT if the government changes 
than laws are passed making it once again illegal 

[Neeranam]

I've been to one of this guy's 'houses', nice guy. 

 

I thought weed was legal?

[herfiehandbag]

8 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, in the past they got activated only, if the manila envelope was not filled properly ???? 

Just an idle thought - could they make envelopes from hemp now?

[mikebell]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

his men were obliged to follow the law.

For the 1st time?  How does he deliver such lines with a straight face?

[PadPrikKhing]

16 hours ago, robblok said:

Because the moment I get a buzz, I order icecream or other bad stuff with grab.

That's pretty funny. I picture you like a Jekyll/Hyde like character... one puff of cannabis and his inner sugar freak is cut loose! Normally a pillar of self-discipline in his sober state, a few milligrams of inhaled THC invariably releases a savage, self-destructive junk-food eating monster.

Edited July 3, 2022 by PadPrikKhing

[Henryford]

Look at the the Daily Mail today (UK paper). Headline "How California's legal cannabis dream became a public health nightmare. In the US state it's led to spiralling addiction, psychotic illnesses and hospitals facing a deluge of poisonings and drug-drive accidents". What Thailand can look forward to.

 

[sammieuk1]

 

In a nutshell, the legalization has been a complete farce with the RTP as the collection money has gone up in smoke and now will have to get up and go out to find some more helmetless infringers ????

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Ask Anutin, this was his baby which he railroaded through without a care in the world.

Coming from a so called health minister he should be dismissed.

Probably the only Health Minister in the world that has ever done something 'the people' liked. I suspect he'll be next PM off the back of this legalisation.

Edited July 3, 2022 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

52 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Look at the the Daily Mail today (UK paper). Headline "How California's legal cannabis dream became a public health nightmare. In the US state it's led to spiralling addiction, psychotic illnesses and hospitals facing a deluge of poisonings and drug-drive accidents". What Thailand can look forward to.

 

Enough of your 'reefer madness 0.2%' nonsense, troll somewhere else.

[Misterwhisper]

On 7/2/2022 at 10:51 AM, webfact said:

Sarayuth Sanguanphokhai said not a single arrest has happened.

Duh! When something suddenly has become LEGAL, why would there be any arrests?

 

On the other hand, the RTP is notorious for actually making up or "interpret" laws as they see fit in many other instances in order to extort money or making unlawful arrests. So why so coy all of a sudden?

 

The true farce is, of course, that the government announced the complete legalization BEFORE a sensible regulatory framework was drafted that clearly defines what is allowed and what isn't. Why the head-over-heels rush into legalizing cannabis without having guidelines in place? It's like riding a horse before saddling it up and then wondering why you're ending up in a ditch.

 

Germany is going to legalize cannabis in the very near future. To prepare for that, they have set up a house committee comprising members of all stakeholders and interest groups from both the public and private sectors that currently deliberate on a regulatory framework, including (but not limited to):

 

- the minimum age for legally buying cannabis and whether certain user demographics should be barred from purchasing cannabis products (e.g. pregnant women)

- how and through which channels cannabis products can be sold (e.g. private shops, online stores, pharmacies, etc.)

- what THC threshold will be allowed and whether certain cannabis products (e.g. hashish) should remain banned

- what licenses or permits retailers/dispensaries must obtain

- from which grower sources cannabis products can be legally obtained by merchants/retailers

- whether there should be an excise tax on cannabis products or not

- whether consumption will be allowed on-premise in dedicated venues (e.g. "cannabis cafes", etc.)

- whether and how many cannabis plants can be grown for private consumption and whether such growing must be registered or not

- and so on and so on

 

And you can bet your grandma's bong that Germany will NOT legalize cannabis UNTIL such a regulatory framework stands, has been vetted and re-vetted and re-vetted once again just for good measure before it is finally promulgated. And THAT's how it's done, Thailand! Germany saddles up its horse before riding it.