'It's like the new Amsterdam': The rush to cash in on Thailand's hazy cannabis laws

[webfact]

Soranut Masayavanich holds up a bong in his cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand. The drug was decriminalised in the country earlier this year. (Foreign Correspondent: Craig Hansen ACS)

 

By Mazoe Ford, Deborah Richards and Supattra Vimonsuknopparat in Thailand

 

It's a hot Sunday afternoon on tropical Koh Samui and tourists at a luxury beach club are relaxing on white sofas, cooling off in the pool and sipping expensive champagne.

 

Some are also smoking cannabis joints, right out in the open.

 

It's a startling sight in Thailand where, until a few months ago, people caught with the drug were often jailed.

 

Carlos Oliver (left), a British national on holiday in Thailand, says the country is like "the new Amsterdam" thanks to the sudden decriminalisation of cannabis. (Foreign Correspondent: Craig Hansen ACS)

 

But cannabis, or "ganja" as it's known here, is no longer classed as an illegal drug in Thailand.

 

In June, the south-east Asian nation took the plant off the banned narcotics list so people could grow, sell and use it for medicinal purposes.

 

 

But a law regulating its recreational use has not yet passed the parliament, leaving a legal grey area that many, from tourists to "ganja-preneurs", are now rushing to take advantage of.

 

"There's a huge demand for cannabis," says the beach club's owner, Carl Lamb, a British expat who has lived on Koh Samui for 25 years and owns a number of resorts.

 

Full story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-06/legal-cannabis-changing-thailand-into-amsterdam-of-asia/101500422

 

-- © Copyright ABC NEWS 2022-10-06

 

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[ukrules]

I won't be smoking any of that stuff, makes me tired - and I hate that.

 

For me those days are long gone, as in decades ago.

 

I'm sure the younger generations will love it though and they will come for it.

[Geoffggi]

What I find confusing is the number of cannabis outlets there are yet the price of it per gram is ridiculous, one keeps hearing that Thai people are struggling with financial problems yet more & more sales outlets keep on opening up surely we must be over the sustainable margins and many of these outlets will have to close, I didn't think there were so many tourists here or is it visitors from neighboring countries who have the purchasing power .........

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Geoffggi said:

What I find confusing is the number of cannabis outlets there are yet the price of it per gram is ridiculous, one keeps hearing that Thai people are struggling with financial problems yet more & more sales outlets keep on opening up surely we must be over the sustainable margins and many of these outlets will have to close, I didn't think there were so many tourists here or is it visitors from neighboring countries who have the purchasing power .........

They are the new Massage Parlours, tattoo shops and 7-11s.... one on every corner, 4 next door, just seems to be how things happen here. 

[Orinoco]

25 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

What I find confusing is the number of cannabis outlets there are yet the price of it per gram is ridiculous, one keeps hearing that Thai people are struggling with financial problems yet more & more sales outlets keep on opening up surely we must be over the sustainable margins and many of these outlets will have to close, I didn't think there were so many tourists here or is it visitors from neighboring countries who have the purchasing power .........

Looks like everyone want's a peace of the pipe. 

[bkk6060]

More like Los Angeles it seems many places you go, it smells like weed.

[ozz1]

 the problem is one opens up and then the rest follow Thai logic thinking that they are all going to make money but if they all open shops it just cuts everyones profit down

[khaowong1]

Pretty soon you'll see large pot farms all over the place.  

[vandeventer]

1 hour ago, Geoffggi said:

What I find confusing is the number of cannabis outlets there are yet the price of it per gram is ridiculous, one keeps hearing that Thai people are struggling with financial problems yet more & more sales outlets keep on opening up surely we must be over the sustainable margins and many of these outlets will have to close, I didn't think there were so many tourists here or is it visitors from neighboring countries who have the purchasing power .........

I have stopped eating out for some time now because they put this <deleted>  in my food. It's not msg, it doesn't make your food taste better. All it does is increase the price on eating out.

[ezzra]

I wonder how long before the tourism department of Thailand will put it on their promotions banners and a reason to visit Thailand, something like 'Come to Thailand, come one, come all to the sun, sea, good food, exotic sight seeing and lots and lot of legal ganja to smoke', ...

[kwan]

Amsterdam considers banning ‘cannabis tourists’ from its coffee shops

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/01/amsterdam-considers-banning-cannabis-tourists-from-its-coffee-shops

[PJ71]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

I won't be smoking any of that stuff, makes me tired

Nowadays you can get whatever 'hit' you want.

 

I know people that use it before working out for focus, as an example.

[Wuvu2]

32 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

I have stopped eating out for some time now because they put this <deleted>  in my food. It's not msg, it doesn't make your food taste better. All it does is increase the price on eating out.

I don't believe you. I'm calling BS ????

This is a Thai urban legend promoted by the folks that want to reverse legalization. Exactly where have they been putting weed in your food without your knowledge - and without charging a premium for it? 

 

 

[vandeventer]

15 minutes ago, Wuvu2 said:

I don't believe you. I'm calling BS ????

This is a Thai urban legend promoted by the folks that want to reverse legalization. Exactly where have they been putting weed in your food without your knowledge - and without charging a premium for it? 

 

 

You need help, get your taste buds checked out.

[Gknrd]

I know a few people here, every uncle , aunt, extended family is growing it. I stopped at a few Guest housed and they are growing it.. In Laos same. But, you go to jail here if they want.. But, the GH I was in had at least 100 plans growing.. Crazy..

They all think it is going to get them rich..

[Henryford]

Be sure to attract all the quality tourists, sitting with a load of potheads smelling their disguting weed.

[peter zwart]

1 hour ago, kwan said:

Amsterdam considers banning ‘cannabis tourists’ from its coffee shops

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/01/amsterdam-considers-banning-cannabis-tourists-from-its-coffee-shops

I can tell you that this Lady "Halsema" so now and then pops up because she wants to be sure people do nor forget her. Over 40 years there are debats in the Netherlands about Ganja and so now and then they bring little changes to the law but overall its still there and will stay. 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

more sales outlets keep on opening up surely we must be over the sustainable margins and many of these outlets will have to close

It's the Thai way. Everyone jumps on the bandwagon and then many of the businesses fail because sales are spread too thin. You see it all the time along the highways, with a dozen stalls within a kilometre all selling exactly the same stuff. It happened in my area too with sugar cane. Everyone grew it but the price plummeted because of over-supply. Exactly the same thing happened with growing rubber trees. Thais have absolutely no idea about business methods, supply and demand and so on. They just follow what others do, like sheep, and then get burned.

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, vandeventer said:

I have stopped eating out for some time now because they put this <deleted>  in my food. It's not msg, it doesn't make your food taste better. All it does is increase the price on eating out.

Absolute paranoid nonsense.

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, ukrules said:

I won't be smoking any of that stuff, makes me tired - and I hate that.

I used to feel the same.  But having tried the new stuff it is amazing - you can feel euphoric and energetic and focused, so different.  Different strains have different effects.

Personally I can take it or leave it, but like to dip in maybe once a month.  I think it is great for Thailand, great for the economy, and an amazingly - and unexpected - progressive decision by the government.  Still feels weird that this has happened.

[AlQaholic]

2 hours ago, ozz1 said:

 the problem is one opens up and then the rest follow Thai logic thinking that they are all going to make money but if they all open shops it just cuts everyones profit down

That is a misconception that is valid in Western countries. Here in Asia the population density in the areas where these shops pop up makes the opening of shops next door to each other having little effect on the profitability. It only results in people knowing where to find the shops. Look at the vast areas in BKK that only sells textile, electronics, used cars etc.

[stoner]

1 hour ago, khaowong1 said:

Pretty soon you'll see large pot farms all over the place.  

most of which will grow mid to low quality weed. i'm not scared at all. bring it. 

[stoner]

13 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Be sure to attract all the quality tourists, sitting with a load of potheads smelling their disguting weed.

i see you parked your dinosaur out back. 

[IAMHERE]

I tried it back in Illinois when it was legalized for all. Couldn't smoke it, just too hot. Maybe I can learn to use a bong if it is on Youtube.

[hotandsticky]

11 minutes ago, stoner said:

i see you parked your dinosaur out back. 

 

He has as much right to dislike it, as you do to like it. 

[Maha Sarakham]

I hate the smell of it, not a fan.

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

I wonder how long before the tourism department of Thailand will put it on their promotions banners and a reason to visit Thailand, something like 'Come to Thailand, come one, come all to the sun, sea, good food, exotic sight seeing and lots and lot of legal ganja to smoke', ...

why not ?

[HaoleBoy]

3 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

What I find confusing is the number of cannabis outlets there are yet the price of it per gram is ridiculous

The price per gram online has dropped substantially - 260 thb / gr, 300 thb / gr, 340 thb / gr ;  this is for imported top-shelf strains of good weed.

 

Once local growers (Thai's) start using good seeds from EU / US and becoming more adept at the overall grow cycle (including drying) then local ganja will be good and cheaper.

 

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, Wuvu2 said:

I don't believe you. I'm calling BS ????

This is a Thai urban legend promoted by the folks that want to reverse legalization. Exactly where have they been putting weed in your food without your knowledge - and without charging a premium for it? 

 

 

Absolutely correct,   Why do people start these ridiculous rumours ? 

[pomchop]

way overpriced  but i guess not for the two week millionaires....two tiny half joints (half the joint is a filter thing) 700 baht ....no thanks..