Anutin: No U-turn on marijuana - minister pressing ahead with use of drug in "two trillion baht wellness tourism"

[webfact]

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported on the latest comments of Thailand's health minister and DPM Anutin Charvirakul and senior doctors as the great marijuana debate in Thailand was racheted up.

 

Anutin was speaking at the Health Ministry in Nonthaburi where he sung the praises of marijuana for "wellness tourism" something that was described as a 2.3 trillion baht worldwide business post pandemic. 

 

Anutin - as leader of the Bhumjaithai political party - has been a key advocate of the decriminalization of marijuana and hemp that came in on June 9th.

 

But groups ranging from Muslims in the south to a group of 851 doctors and medical personnel at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok as well as the Forensic Physicians' Association have called for a suspension of the liberalization.

 

They claim that youth are at risk despite bans on the drug being used by under 20s in legislation that already exists.

 

Anutin was quoted in Thailand's English print media that the country has come too far to turn back now saying that marijuana will not be illegal again. 

 

He said that the committee scrutinising the change in the law and coming up with new guidelines will report at the end of next month and PM Prayuth Chan-ocha has promised to push through government, and subsequently Royal sssent, before the end of this parliament. 

 

Anutin said yesterday that marijuana products provide a great opportunity for people to make money in the health tourism arena and provide a "better quality of life" for sick people.

 

Dr Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, deputy at the MoPH, spoke of their use in health and beauty spas though stressed that must be legal.

 

He said there are 11,543 wellness tourism facilities in Thailand that would use hemp and marijuana products. 

 

These comprised 1,051 spas, 10,248 health massage shops and 241 beauty massage establishments.

 

Hemp oil from seeds would be used in the spas and compresses containing ganja would be allowed too. 

 

The drugs would also play a part in "spa cuisine" though this was not adequately explained in the Thai Rath story. 

 

The overriding message coming from Anutin and his doctors was that marijuana is here to stay in Thailand despite the furor over recreational use and worries about access by under age teens, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

There is too much money involved to turn back now.

 

But many will be eagerly anticipating the findings of the House committee due to report at the end of August.

 

Their recommendations could shape the liberalization and industry for years to come. 

 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-27

 

- Cigna 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.

 

Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

 

Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

[JonnyF]

I'm pleased to hear that.

 

I have also made a significant investment in a massive bong (medicinal use only of course - I suffer occasional appetite loss) ????.

[CashMoon]

Anutin is my favorite politician now . We love you so much. The man who sees the future ????

[ezzra]

If you ask the esteemed minister to write down the number 2 trillion baht i doubt if he could...

[sammieuk1]

Is that $ signs on his shirt ????

[Tropicalevo]

6 minutes ago, CashMoon said:

Anutin is my favorite politician now . We love you so much. The man who sees the future ????

Then you were easily bought and at such a cheap price.

[Captain Monday]

Perhaps influential people have invested?

 

[daveAustin]

5 minutes ago, CashMoon said:

Anutin is my favorite politician now . We love you so much. The man who sees the future ????

I used to hate him too. This whole liberalisation thing could be a master stroke. Keep the little man happy, reduce prison population, get the drug users onto benign weed, convert some of the alcoholics, make people some money (including himself), quell the protest movement, make the government look cool, p$ss off those guys in the south. 

[starky]

Never thought I would be saying this one.... GO ANUTIN lol

[starky]

3 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

Perhaps influential people have invested?

 

Lol ya reckon?

[Lucky Bones]

12 minutes ago, ezzra said:

If you ask the esteemed minister to write down the number 2 trillion baht i doubt if he could...

Of course he could.

Just copy from his offshore account.

[steven100]

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

provide a great opportunity for people to make money

he means kids in schools 

[Lucky Bones]

6 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

I used to hate him too. This whole liberalisation thing could be a master stroke. Keep the little man happy, reduce prison population, get the drug users onto benign weed, convert some of the alcoholics, make people some money (including himself), quell the protest movement, make the government look cool, p$ss off those guys in the south. 

Agree with making money for himself.

The rest he ain't bright enough to figure out.

[bamnutsak]

There will be countless controls, rules, laws and regulations, both in the near term, and as a result of the Cannabis Control Act.

 

They've already issued orders re: age 20, pregnant women, not annoying the public, no cannabis in schools, halls of justice, Army etc.

 

A new order was issued yesterday, although I can't interpret it.

 

So it's a bit of a wild west show now.

 

Regulating production, product safety, distribution, marketing and sales, tax collection seem like keys to me.

 

I'm no fan but you've got to admire his tenacity. Many would have caved by now, with pressure from religious groups, and doctors.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bday Prang]

33 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

Perhaps influential people have invested?

 

so what?

[CashMoon]

41 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Then you were easily bought and at such a cheap price.

Come on bro! I was so sick of buying brickweed secretly. I spend about $1500 a month almost exclusively on weed right now.  100gr brick weed is 13.5$  My monthly spending on weed has increased by 11,000%.  If I am happy even though my spending has increased so much, you should congratulate this man.

[Bkk Brian]

14 minutes ago, CashMoon said:

Come on bro! I was so sick of buying brickweed secretly. I spend about $1500 a month almost exclusively on weed right now.  100gr brick weed is 13.5$  My monthly spending on weed has increased by 11,000%.  If I am happy even though my spending has increased so much, you should congratulate this man.

bro........$1,500 around 55k baht spent on weed monthly, I guess you must be permanently under the influence, do you have a medical condition?

[ThailandRyan]

Marijuana for Wellness tourism, I think I may have just returned to my days visiting Jamaica........................who makes up this garbage, Has Amsterdam become a Wellness hub as well throughout the decades?....asking for Cheech and Chong.

[CashMoon]

13 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

bro........$1,500 around 55k baht spent on weed monthly, I guess you must be permanently under the influence, do you have a medical condition?

No man I really don't have a problem. I work very hard online. There are times when I talk to thousands of customers a day. In addition, I prepare original articles for blogs. I can say that my profession is an organic product that makes me great.

 I don't smoke cigarette or drink alcohol. Since I smoke it every day, the effect on me may be different from the effect on you. It's like a sweet relief to me. It increases my imagination. I don't feel too heavy like others.  There really is a huge difference in the articles I write when I smoke quality weed. When i work high, i can do my work much better. I'm not kidding it really makes me awesome at my job.

 

[pitufikken]

Anutin would never go back. That would be loosing face big time.

[2baht]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

If you ask the esteemed minister to write down the number 2 trillion baht i doubt if he could...

Probaly does'nt know what a brazillion is either!

[DeaconJohn]

1 hour ago, Captain Monday said:

Perhaps influential people have invested?

 

 

34 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

so what?

That's what makes them influential... picking winners.

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, CashMoon said:

No man I really don't have a problem. I work very hard online. There are times when I talk to thousands of customers a day. In addition, I prepare original articles for blogs. I can say that my profession is an organic product that makes me great.

 I don't smoke cigarette or drink alcohol. Since I smoke it every day, the effect on me may be different from the effect on you. It's like a sweet relief to me. It increases my imagination. I don't feel too heavy like others.  There really is a huge difference in the articles I write when I smoke quality weed. When i work high, i can do my work much better. I'm not kidding it really makes me awesome at my job.

 

No criticism for me, what you do in your own home is up to you, just the amount of money spent on keeping yourself high would indicate a problem in anyone's books, be that with weed, alcohol or any substance

[CashMoon]

I'm just saying it, my 3 developer friends resigned from their jobs. They will completely move here and work as upwork freelancer within 3 months. Tens of thousands of digital nomads who like cannabis like my friends will come here. If the necessary convenience can be provided in opening companies that host software and digital projects, we, digital nomads, can open a company and sell our products to the whole world. If such a law is passed, I will feel in heaven. 

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

No criticism for me, what you do in your own home is up to you, just the amount of money spent on keeping yourself high would indicate a problem in anyone's books, be that with weed, alcohol or any substance

I was spending 100bht/day on alcohol.

Now I'm spending 2bht/day on brick.

 

It's a significant saving!

Can't imagine anyone spending much more than that .... why?

[tomacht8]

....They claim that youth are at risk....

 

Nonsense. There is probably not a single youth in Thailand who was not able to get  weed before it was legalized.

 

With the widespread Yaba drug, which is 1000 times more dangerous for society, you can see that punishments and prohibitions are useless.

[CashMoon]

9 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

No criticism for me, what you do in your own home is up to you, just the amount of money spent on keeping yourself high would indicate a problem in anyone's books, be that with weed, alcohol or any substance

55000/800 = 68 gr weed per month. Its normal. I buy weed for 800thb/per gram..   It's nothing to be surprised, it's really normal.

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I was spending 100bht/day on alcohol.

Now I'm spending 2bht/day on brick.

 

It's a significant saving!

Yep, I save nothing as I don't smoke weed and don't do alcohol at home unless its a special occasion and my online work remains unaffected.

[stoner]

10 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

No criticism for me, what you do in your own home is up to you, just the amount of money spent on keeping yourself high would indicate a problem in anyone's books, be that with weed, alcohol or any substance

no criticism for me ....then you go on to criticize. 

 

thats your personal opinion on how another human being should spend their time. you may see it as an indication and you are well entitled to that opinion. does not make it right though can we agree on that ? 

 

i don't see his cannabis intake as a problem. he seems to be living a productive life. not harming others(generally speaking) , working, contributing. 

 

does someone who spends 1500 a month on say marvel collectables....do they have a problem ? is there not a chemical rush happening in the human brain in similar ways that drugs bring on ? 

 

 

 

  

[Bday Prang]

                         The alleged concern by some regarding the "youth of Thailand" is nothing more than misplaced virtue signalling and  people grasping at straws .  "ban it if only for the sake of kids and the mentally ill"  etc etc

                          Kids ( and everybody else) have always had easy access to cannabis regardless of regulations. Something that the prohibitionists don't seem to be able to grasp is that its always been available and always will be.

                          I haven't heard any of these "concerned" people voice any opposition to the legal status of alcohol for the same reasons, Their "concern" for the youth of Thailand seems to disappear when they realise that it may impact their own consumption of the legalised and dangerous drug that they happen to like. They also complain on here frequently regarding any restrictions regarding the availability of alcohol that were put in place to protect kids 

                          Bearing that in mind , its  (almost) understandable that  objections are voiced from teetotallers, for obvious reasons !  but for anybody who enjoys alcohol to object to the  cannabis legalisation is absolute hypocrisy and based entirely on fear and ignorance.  After all 100 years of U;S funded "reefer madness" will not disappear over night

                           They smugly post links to any anti cannabis propaganda they can find on the internet whilst dismissing any other relevant facts as worthless.  However they all choose to ignore the fact that there is at least 100 times more information available on the internet highlighting the problems of alcohol consumption

                            Realistically how can cannabis be illegal, and, along with its users be vilified when alcohol is legal and embraced, to the extent that abstainers often need to explain themselves and are often viewed with a mixture of suspicion and disdain?

                           Surely If one is banned the other should be banned also

                            As they say ...."people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"   but I prefer "live and let live"

                            I'm not advocating a ban on alcohol or anything else for that matter but in the interests of "fairness" maybe its the only way forward hahahahaha