Why was Thailand’s cannabis bill voted down and will this derail legalization?

[webfact]

 

The shooting down of the marijuana bill in Parliament last week sparked concerns on both sides of the debate.

 

The pro-pot camp is worried the legalization of cannabis will be reversed, while others – including many doctors – are afraid that consumption of cannabis without proper controls will continue.

 

Will marijuana become illegal again?

 

MPs from two major parties – the Democrats and Pheu Thai – have called for a review of the draft law’s content, but they have also suggested that it may be time to reconsider whether cannabis should be removed from the list of illegal narcotics.

 

Chaithawat Tulathon, secretary-general of the opposition Move Forward Party, called on Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to cancel the decriminalization of cannabis until the Marijuana Act is implemented.

 

Anutin is also leader of the coalition’s Bhumjaithai Party, whose key election promise was to legalize marijuana.

 

As such, Bhumjaithai insists it will do everything to ensure the recent legalization is not reversed.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/why-was-thailands-cannabis-bill-voted-down-and-will-this-derail-legalization/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-09-23

 

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[BritManToo]

Them fighting over details is a good thing ......... gives us longer with no restrictions of any kind.

[SunnyinBangrak]

Can farangs be Thai policemen? Can you just imagine the grift possibilities if wacky baccy is made illegal again. Police will have the list of 30 odd million people that registered to grow with that app. Knocking on doors never was so lucrative. It would be the greatest extortion spree ever, and I want part of it????

[2baht]

They would'nt know if they were coming or going!

[DezLez]

5 hours ago, 2baht said:

They would'nt know if they were coming or going!

I think the know when the are coming, they just don't know where they are going!

[whereyougo]

How many people died since legalisation,  pretty sure none. As for the drug making thais dopey... 

[Smithson]

Thailand now appears to have the world's most liberal cannabis laws or maybe no laws at all and very little has happened. The society runs as it did before. It's mainly been positive - fewer inmates, but really the impact is minimal. So why do so many countries still ban it?

[Thingamabob]

How can smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol be allowed if use of pot is not ?

[unblocktheplanet]

Oooh, would they ever look stupid closing down the dispensaries & busting folks again!

 

No matter how the law goes, it's de fact(o). Caused zero problems, too.

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin is also leader of the coalition’s Bhumjaithai Party, whose key election promise was to legalize marijuana.

 

As such, Bhumjaithai insists it will do everything to ensure the recent legalization is not reversed.

Anutin what a plonker... his veiled attempt of securing votes.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

How can smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol be allowed if use of pot is not ?

You have to draw a line somewhere?

[Laughing Gravy]

A typical Thailand s it show of poor organisation and even poorer planning..

[sammieuk1]

Should all be crystal clear from the haze when any opposition members become unusually wealthy by next week ???? 

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

The yaba is rampant out here in the moo bans. More are reporting young boys out all night up to mischief, stealing things from shops and front yards, then they sleep all day and don't go to school. It's become dirt cheap as it's been pouring across the borders, with certain people paid to look the other way.

 

The yaba incidents on the news, with shirtless or naked guys trashing a shop then having to be dragged into the back of a pickup, have become a nightly routine. Would be far preferable for them to just smoke a little ganja, after which they'll peaceful and docile. But then certain people don't like that it can be grown on one's own or obtained locally, and they'd no longer get a cut from it coming in from somewhere.

[bobbin]

3 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

The yaba is rampant out here in the moo bans. More are reporting young boys out all night up to mischief, stealing things from shops and front yards, then they sleep all day and don't go to school. It's become dirt cheap as it's been pouring across the borders, with certain people paid to look the other way.

 

The yaba incidents on the news, with shirtless or naked guys trashing a shop then having to be dragged into the back of a pickup, have become a nightly routine. Would be far preferable for them to just smoke a little ganja, after which they'll peaceful and docile. But then certain people don't like that it can be grown on one's own or obtained locally, and they'd no longer get a cut from it coming in from somewhere.

One can only hope that significant numbers of yaba users of all ages find that Ganja is a more pleasant "high" and yaba use declines..

 

Ganja seems like a much better "fit' for the average Thai (and everyone that doesn't want to spend a few hours grinding their teeth..)

[monkfish]

On 9/23/2022 at 8:54 AM, BritManToo said:

Them fighting over details is a good thing ......... gives us longer with no restrictions of any kind.

Yes but if you are smoking use your brains because foreigners smoking it in public and on beaches

without a care is a sure way to get it banned very soon.

[monkfish]

15 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

How can smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol be allowed if use of pot is not ?

Problem is I believe a higher percentage of people who start smoking pot move onto harder drugs later.

My brother was one who later overdosed and died from a bad batch.

[chalawaan]

31 minutes ago, bobbin said:

One can only hope that significant numbers of yaba users of all ages find that Ganja is a more pleasant "high" and yaba use declines..

 

Ganja seems like a much better "fit' for the average Thai (and everyone that doesn't want to spend a few hours grinding their teeth..)

If it was legal like booze, kids would find it much harder to access. And the dose would be easier to regulate to stop many negative effects.

 

The Whermacht overran western Europe on meth.

 

https://time.com/5752114/nazi-military-drugs/

so where were all the German meth heads?

 

The only way to control drugs is to stop lying to ourselves about the harms, which exist, but are vastly exaggerated, and start supplying them to those that want them, controlled just like tobacco and booze.

There is no other way that doesn't eventually end in a state of complete societal chaos. 

Edited September 24, 2022 by chalawaan

[chalawaan]

12 minutes ago, monkfish said:

Problem is I believe a higher percentage of people who start smoking pot move onto harder drugs later.

My brother was one who later overdosed and died from a bad batch.

"Gateway drug" is a myth. 

So while your statement is true, the inference that it "all begins with weed" is not. 

The reality is that people who use one drug, are more likely to try other drugs.

People who become drug dependant, versus about 96% of recreational users, are often suffering from unresolved childhood trauma, such as sexual abuse, or even battlefield PTSD.

 

Edited September 24, 2022 by chalawaan

[monkfish]

8 minutes ago, chalawaan said:

"Gateway drug" is a myth. 

So while your statement is true, the inference that it "all begins with weed" is not. 

The reality is that people who use one drug, are more likely to try other drugs.

People who become drug dependant, versus about 96% of recreational users, are often suffering from unresolved childhood trauma, such as sexual abuse, or even battlefield PTSD.

 

Well I don't really agree and that's just from my own personal experience most people I know who started smoking Pot also tried stronger drugs.
 

[chalawaan]

6 hours ago, hotchilli said:

You have to draw a line somewhere?

How is that going?

Crime up.

Supply up.

Use up.

Here's a thought:

No line, no crime.

Here's the proof:

America's failed booze prohibition stunt.

Legalise.

Educate.

Tax.

Supply.

The cartels and all the related street crime ends.

But because they've so successfully brainwashed the electorate to fear drugs without understanding the science of addiction, they cannot reverse course. 

And here we are. 

 

[chalawaan]

10 minutes ago, monkfish said:

Well I don't really agree and that's just from my own personal experience most people I know who started smoking Pot also tried stronger drugs.
 

You are not even trying to understand my argument, I don't disagree with your claim, but it does not follow weed is a risk factor for harder drugs, it just means anyone who uses ANY drugs is more likely to use other drugs. 

That's a big leap.

Also, your personal experience of knowing some dudes is not a scientific method of reaching important conclusions about drug use. 

Edited September 24, 2022 by chalawaan

[monkfish]

2 minutes ago, chalawaan said:

You are not even trying to understand my argument, you're just stuck in your groove, and that's that. 

Thus, part of the problem?

Well I used to smoke but gave it up and I do understand your argument but don't agree that's all and so now you say I am stuck in a groove?

[spidermike007]

The Democrats and Pheu Thai are on the wrong side of history, with this populist legalization. And it is the wrong time for them to be so wrong, with an election looming in the not too distant future. If they want to have any chance of victory, they need to be progressive, and look to the future. If the RDP (regressive dinosaur party) could get this legalized, then this just makes the other parties look sluggard and out of touch with the people.

 

Get your act together guys, and get with the times!

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If they want to have any chance of victory, they need to be progressive,

If they want any real chance of winning they'll need more guns, tanks and soldiers.

 

[superal]

15 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

How can smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol be allowed if use of pot is not ?

Lets not forget vaping . The maximum penalty is 30,000 baht fine and a 10 year prison sentence but I think it is aimed mostly at farangs as Thais openly vape . Smoking pot is now legal and will be for a long time but it is much more harmful than vaping which is seen as a way to quit regular tobacco smoking . 

[monkfish]

I agree that Cannabis should be legalized for medical purposes and even recreational use if people do it in private without disturbing others.
I don't agree that people take big Spliff's down to the beach thinking they are cool and boast about it on social media.

When young people see it they will also want to try just to look cool and I don't think smoking anything is good for your lungs.
There are other ways to take it apart from smoking but they just don't look as cool.
 

[daveAustin]

20 hours ago, Smithson said:

Thailand now appears to have the world's most liberal cannabis laws or maybe no laws at all and very little has happened. The society runs as it did before. It's mainly been positive - fewer inmates, but really the impact is minimal. So why do so many countries still ban it?

County's ban it because it would impact traditional revenue streams--alcohol and tobacco duties and the sale of pharmaceuticals. It also keeps politicians looking 'proper' and responsible to their electorate.