Social media goes ballistic as small kids pictured smoking marijuana in a bamboo bong at Pattaya beach

[webfact]

 

77kaoded Thai caption: Kids doing marijuana down at the beach 

 

They are pictures no one wants to see - especially proponents of Thailand's still relatively new free marijuana laws who want no bad press leading to a step back to re-criminalization. 

 

And there could be fears that people who are still "anti-weed" will seize on such alarming pictures and say "we told you so", notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Recreational use of the drug has been widespread for ever and a day, not just since June 9th when the drug was taken off the Class 5 narcotics list. But even now there are laws in place to stop anyone under 20 buying what the Thais call ganja. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

77kaoded said that 2/3 kids apparently smoking a bong at a Pattaya beach location were featured on a local social media page.

 

Comment was understandably widespread causing reporters to go and find the poster.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Krittiwat Matrong, 35, said he was in Pattaya for last week's fireworks' festival and was preparing a boat trip.

 

He saw two kids at Saphan Pla with a bamboo bong.

 

He thought they were just messing about but then realised they were actually smoking.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

He went up and told them to stop and discovered they were just 9 and 10 years old.

 

He asked if their parents knew what they were doing. They said they didn't have parents.

 

Then one said he wasn't scared - his dad was in the military.

 

Krittiwat turned to an older child with them saying why didn't you stop them - he said nothing. 

 

Krittiwat called on the authorities to look into the matter that he considered damaging not just for the children and youth but for the Thai tourism industry as a whole. 

 

At the least he considered it  inappropriate. 

 

Other media picked up on the story.

 

Naew Na said the pictures were shocking.

 

Thai Rath, the biggest media in Thailand, said it was in full view of tourists, damaging to tourism and something needed to be done.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-12-02

 

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[JoePai]

Thank their parents

[ezzra]

"gone ballistic" really? and i'm shocked that you're shocked... like young kids don't do drugs in Thailand and specially those street's urchins...

[terryq]

On the positive side.....

 

The parents should be congratulated for teaching their children to use renewable materials , the bamboo bong, instead of plastic.!

 

[Lemsta69]

better than sniffing petrol or paint or whatever.

[RandolphGB]

Cue all the comments from expat stoners defending drugs…

[champers]

Wouldn't surprise me if it was a staged photo.

[cnx101]

Fake photo set up to make problems 

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Then one said he wasn't scared - his dad was in the military.

Young learner!

[TingTonger]

2 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

Cue all the comments from expat stoners defending drugs…

Cue all the Alcoholics and Mall Cops , thinking this is a Competition 

[thailand49]

Shocking!  

Just when you think Thais couldn't have their heads in the sand anymore than they already just shows you?

 

What you think is going to happen? No enforcement here for anything alcohol, underage driving,  so why would pot be any different.  

 

 

[proton]

Better than sniffing glue though

[bbi1]

Well, that's what happens when weed is available everywhere, being sold every 50m from the next seller.

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, proton said:

Better than sniffing glue though

Can't get stuck on it?

[nowhereman]

8 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Can't get stuck on it?

Glue was banned years ago, don't you remember and then social media went ballistic ????

[finnomick1]

" something needed to be done ". Well, the horse is already in the next paddock.

[Accidental Tourist]

Really and this wonders you? There is no surprise with no restriction on it. What ever peoble say Cannabis is a DRUG and should be controllet...

[PEE TEE]

Not good but meanwhile back in the UK the kids are running wild with knives 

[Purdey]

The Indonesia kid with a 40 a day habit strikes me as being a lot worse as he faces lung cancer. What does a bong user face?

[NE1]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai Rath, the biggest media in Thailand, said it was in full view of tourists, damaging to tourism and something needed to be done.

Yes , we should build a " Cannabis Creche " for them , as long as tourists don't see it , it is okay .????

[Chosenfew]

This looks staged to rile people.

[ThaiFelix]

4 hours ago, champers said:

Wouldn't surprise me if it was a staged photo.

Stooping pretty low to use kids to forward their anti cannabis agenda.

[champers]

Just now, ThaiFelix said:

Stooping pretty low to use kids to forward their anti cannabis agenda.

That's politics in Thailand for you.

[peter zwart]

Shall we call this fake news for political gain?

[Aussieroaming]

Marijuana is a precursor drug to heavier drugs. I have seen the progression from one to the other many times with people I knew. Luckily for me I tried grass once and hated it and never touched a drug again. These children need to be educated not to take drugs. 

 

And yes, alcohol isn't much better and creates all sorts of issues.

[vivananahuahin]

This eudcation is so low.

[shackleton]

A other Pattaya first 

Where did they get the money for this plus who supplied it ???? 

[Will B Good]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

one said he wasn't scared - his dad was in the military.

That is truly frightening

[NE1]

2 minutes ago, shackleton said:

A other Pattaya first 

Where did they get the money for this plus who supplied it ???? 

and where will they get the money for their next supply , and so it begins....

[SS1]

Maybe they should stop selling weed between 14:00-17:00 and the problem would be solved.