Will cannabis legalization without regulation come back to burn Thailand?

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

The legalization of cannabis in Thailand on June 9 brought a huge vacuum in the regulation of “pot” across the country. More than a month later, there is still very little legal control on the use of the plant, which remains categorized as a narcotic in most parts of the world.

 

Stalls selling cannabis leaves and buds are popping up on busy roads like Bangkok’s Silom and Khao San and Nimmanhaemin in Chiang Mai, with some even offering ready-rolled joints for customers to smoke.

 

Restaurants – from luxury bistros to streetside eateries – have started adding marijuana to their dishes as the “cannabis cash-crop” trend takes off. Government organizations have also been handing out cannabis seedlings to households for cultivation.

 

While top politicians from the Bhumjaithai Party – which hatched the policy to legalize cannabis – remain adamant that decriminalization is a good move, critics warn the regulatory void must be filled to avoid damaging consequences.

 

Downside of legalizing marijuana

 

Legalization was quickly followed by multiple reports of illness and even hospitalization of people after consuming cannabis.

 

From June 21 to 30, some nine youngsters fell ill from unsupervised marijuana consumption.

 

It was also reported that a six-year-old child had eaten cannabis-spiked snacks and fallen into a stupor, while a 15-year-old boy with a history of depression attacked people with a knife after smoking two joints.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/will-cannabis-legalization-without-regulation-come-back-to-burn-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-07-14

 

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[bobbin]

Seriously?

 

Recounting already discredited and untrue allegations..

 

Go quietly into the night please..

[clokwise]

Regardless of these sensational stories in the media about the dangers of cannabis, I do believe the Thai govt missed a terrific opportunity to regulate and tax the growers and vendors. Look at how it works in the USA, where you can only purchase weed legally from a registered marijuana vendor, and can only purchase products grown under license. Often the products come with a QR code link to an independent assay of that particular batch. This provides greater assurance of the quality of the product in terms of THC levels as well as knowledge of the strain and whether any pesticides or chemicals were used in the growing process. Finally, the state adds ~20% tax on all cannabis sales, providing pretty decent revenue. Of course regulations vary from state to state, so that example is just a generalization.

 

But what we have in Thailand is unknown vendors offering mystery product (strain unknown, THC levels uncertain, potentially grown with pesticides), sold on the street without any tax revenue whatsoever.

 

I'm the biggest stoner I know, but now that it's legal I'm still not gonna buy from some rando dealer. I'd much rather pay 20% tax if it means I can be assured the product I'm ingesting is safe.

 

[tingtongfarang]

they made it legal now they should just leave it alone and stop the misinformation

[MrMuddle]

Click bait... next....

[James26]

A bill is working its way through parliment. Plenty of regulations will come. Similar thing happened in many US states.  

[starky]

"Coming back to burn" "Under fire" what's with all the terrible pun headlines today? Lol.

   Personally I hope the genie is so far out of the bottle they never get it back in.

[kidneyw]

5 hours ago, clokwise said:

I'm the biggest stoner I know, but now that it's legal I'm still not gonna buy from some rando dealer.

But was this not the way it used to be when it was illegal?

[bkk6060]

How many 100's of thousands of these plants were given out?

It is the wild west of weed I see people off some of the back Sois in Pattaya selling it at the front of their house. 

[swissbie]

6 hours ago, clokwise said:

Regardless of these sensational stories in the media about the dangers of cannabis, I do believe the Thai govt missed a terrific opportunity to regulate and tax the growers and vendors. Look at how it works in the USA, where you can only purchase weed legally from a registered marijuana vendor, and can only purchase products grown under license. Often the products come with a QR code link to an independent assay of that particular batch. This provides greater assurance of the quality of the product in terms of THC levels as well as knowledge of the strain and whether any pesticides or chemicals were used in the growing process. Finally, the state adds ~20% tax on all cannabis sales, providing pretty decent revenue. Of course regulations vary from state to state, so that example is just a generalization.

 

But what we have in Thailand is unknown vendors offering mystery product (strain unknown, THC levels uncertain, potentially grown with pesticides), sold on the street without any tax revenue whatsoever.

 

I'm the biggest stoner I know, but now that it's legal I'm still not gonna buy from some rando dealer. I'd much rather pay 20% tax if it means I can be assured the product I'm ingesting is safe.

 

Paying tax would be a good idea, especially as this government is in terrible need of money. But, as it is Thailand, i rather doubt, that this would give any quality assurance or use of pesticides or other chemicals.

[Bday Prang]

 

7 hours ago, clokwise said:

Regardless of these sensational stories in the media about the dangers of cannabis, I do believe the Thai govt missed a terrific opportunity to regulate and tax the growers and vendors. Look at how it works in the USA, where you can only purchase weed legally from a registered marijuana vendor, and can only purchase products grown under license. Often the products come with a QR code link to an independent assay of that particular batch. This provides greater assurance of the quality of the product in terms of THC levels as well as knowledge of the strain and whether any pesticides or chemicals were used in the growing process. Finally, the state adds ~20% tax on all cannabis sales, providing pretty decent revenue. Of course regulations vary from state to state, so that example is just a generalization.

 

But what we have in Thailand is unknown vendors offering mystery product (strain unknown, THC levels uncertain, potentially grown with pesticides), sold on the street without any tax revenue whatsoever.

 

I'm the biggest stoner I know, but now that it's legal I'm still not gonna buy from some rando dealer. I'd much rather pay 20% tax if it means I can be assured the product I'm ingesting is safe.

 

I'm not a great fan of regulation or tax, and I think things are just fine how they are. If people want to pay a bit extra for what they consider to be better quality, that's fine/  and they can do that already at Prikpot or Greenlabs These companies will already be liable for tax on their profits and that should be enough, there is no need for a special cannabis tax ,

                    Why on earth would you suggest that we all pay the government an extra 20% ???  Once governments start taxing things they don't know when to stop, look at alcohol and ciggies in the UK and fuel too!  And anything that governments get involved with running  invariably become disasters, 

Registered growers and Licensed Vendors ?  I'm not a fan of that either too much state control, and will end up more strictly regulated than when it was illegal , in fact, presumably ,it will be illegal unless purchased from an "approved outlet.  Almost back to square one.  Which is where it will be when it gets driven back underground

                         

[fdimike]

Let's all remember that this is Thailand, the land of many laws and little to no law enforcement.

[internationalism]

regulating ganja now would mean not only tax (so higher prices) but certification, licences which would also cost and to be renewed on yearly basis.

And it would be the health ministry job and their particular income.

Knowing dr Anutin and the Bhumjai party mafia roots it's obvious they will profit financially from issuing those licences.

Let people to get high on ganja, than smoke much more harmful cigarettes and alcohol.

That would be cheaper for them, especially if home grown.

There should be as little regulations as possible. What is now is an ideal legal situation

 

[Bday Prang]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

How many 100's of thousands of these plants were given out?

It is the wild west of weed I see people off some of the back Sois in Pattaya selling it at the front of their house. 

I think it was a million, but don't get complacent, people may have taken cuttings so it could be in the 10's of millions now , plus all the plants that people are growing from seed, and cuttings off those too could actually be billions !!!!   And in a few months it will all be ready to smoke , what will become of us all ?   lol

"The wild west of weed"  sounds very dramatic but what you do you actually  mean.????      people selling outside their houses ?       whatever next, call the police , ?       oh dear you can't as no crime has been committed and they won't be interested., will they?

[ericthai]

12 hours ago, clokwise said:

Regardless of these sensational stories in the media about the dangers of cannabis, I do believe the Thai govt missed a terrific opportunity to regulate and tax the growers and vendors. Look at how it works in the USA, where you can only purchase weed legally from a registered marijuana vendor, and can only purchase products grown under license. Often the products come with a QR code link to an independent assay of that particular batch. This provides greater assurance of the quality of the product in terms of THC levels as well as knowledge of the strain and whether any pesticides or chemicals were used in the growing process. Finally, the state adds ~20% tax on all cannabis sales, providing pretty decent revenue. Of course regulations vary from state to state, so that example is just a generalization.

 

But what we have in Thailand is unknown vendors offering mystery product (strain unknown, THC levels uncertain, potentially grown with pesticides), sold on the street without any tax revenue whatsoever.

 

I'm the biggest stoner I know, but now that it's legal I'm still not gonna buy from some rando dealer. I'd much rather pay 20% tax if it means I can be assured the product I'm ingesting is safe.

 

sure get the Thai government involved and then nobody could afford it. They will add 1000% tax, plus vat, plus this plus that. 

 

Best is to leave it an open market. Labs will open up to provide testing and sellers will start to provide lab tested products. If people want this it will happen naturally. Getting government's involved just screw things up. 

[The Old Bull]

Never smelt a whiff on the breeze since they legalized it in Canada. Not cool anymore now it's legal just a few old stoners still smoking.

[wombat]

8 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

what will become of us all 

There will be a glut and prices will drop from the ridiculous gouging high they are now

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Stalls selling cannabis leaves and buds are popping up on busy roads like Bangkok’s Silom and Khao San and Nimmanhaemin in Chiang Mai, with some even offering ready-rolled joints for customers to smoke.

Which is supposedly illegal?

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Restaurants – from luxury bistros to streetside eateries – have started adding marijuana to their dishes as the “cannabis cash-crop” trend takes off.

Gimmicks rule in Thailand... 

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, clokwise said:

But what we have in Thailand is unknown vendors offering mystery product (strain unknown, THC levels uncertain, potentially grown with pesticides), sold on the street without any tax revenue whatsoever.

Well this is Thailand so we expect Thai style.