2022: A roller-coaster ride for Thailand’s cannabis industry

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World

 

Thailand started 2022 with the bright hope that cannabis would be made completely legal. However, as the year draws to a close, calls for cannabis to be returned to the country’s narcotics list are getting louder.

 

Over the past several months, both sides of the cannabis legalization argument have battled fiercely over whether Thailand’s policies related to the herb are moving in the right direction.

 

Critics suggest the government consider cancelling the very concept before more damage is done, especially since there is no specific law that can comprehensively govern the use of cannabis.

 

As of now, MPs are still furiously debating every article of the 95-article Marijuana Bill under the watchful eye of the media, the public and several medical groups. Even if the draft legislation does go through, it will still take several more months for it to go into effect

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/2022-a-roller-coaster-ride-for-thailands-cannabis-industry/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-21

 

- 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!

[stoner]

anny and big p....hit me up.... ill help you guys sort out this mess you created. 

 

 

[cooked]

Started by Anutin, who has (had, hopefully) ambitions of becoming Prime Minister. He apologised for his remarks about dirty Farangs causing Covid. That particular outbreak was almost certainly caused by the illegal import of labourers from Myanmar. He later apologised, using the excuse " so sorry, I was addicted to Marijuana at the time". 

[lujanit]

9 minutes ago, cooked said:

Started by Anutin, who has (had, hopefully) ambitions of becoming Prime Minister.

No chance if Prayhoot is joining his party.  Only after Prayhoot finishes his final two years he might get his chance.

[Enzian]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

95-article Marijuana Bill

What is this, what are the items in it, and what is the process of "debating" it? Are they serious, or is this just a delaying tactic so that the big money can have more time to make the fait accompli completely entrenched? I don't feel that all these pot shops around Sukhumvit have improved the quality of life (such as it is) here, but I would never want the stuff to be illegal. 

It's probably: the cat is out of the bag, that ship has sailed, the horse has bolted, take your pick.

[TingTonger]

2 hours ago, cooked said:

Started by Anutin, who has (had, hopefully) ambitions of becoming Prime Minister. He apologised for his remarks about dirty Farangs causing Covid. That particular outbreak was almost certainly caused by the illegal import of labourers from Myanmar. He later apologised, using the excuse " so sorry, I was addicted to Marijuana at the time". 

Still a Chinese Bioweapon 

[webfact]

What’s In Store For Legal Cannabis In 2023?

By Editor

 

 
Thailand started 2022 with the bright hope that cannabis would be made completely legal. However, as the year draws to a close, calls for cannabis to be returned to the country’s narcotics list are getting louder.  Both sides of the cannabis legalisation argument have battled fiercely over whether Thailand’s policies related to the herb are moving in the right direction.

 

Critics suggest the government consider cancelling the very concept before more damage is done, especially since there is no specific law that can comprehensively govern the use of cannabis.  MPs are still furiously debating every article of the 95-article Marijuana Bill, Even if the draft legislation does go through, it will still take several more months for it to go into effect.

 

Early this year investors were getting their business plans ready to capitalise on cannabis-spiked products, including food and beverage and even cosmetics.  Farmers also expected to earn a good income from growing the plant, which has long been seen as a narcotic in Thailand. The public was also excited, especially those who were keen to legally smoke pot.

 

Cannabis was banned under the Narcotics Code until December 9, 2021.  In February this year, the Public Health Ministry issued a regulation legalising all parts of the plant. The regulation came into effect from June 9, paving the way for pot to become completely legal.

 

As of June 9, businesses began launching their cannabis-spiked products, including food and beverage. Thanks to this wide-spanning regulation, shops selling ganja began sprouting up all over the country, and some grocery stores even began stocking the stuff.

 

However, concerns have been growing that Thailand’s move to legalise cannabis may have unlocked free trade and consumption by people who may not fully understand the harmful effects of marijuana usage. Doctors say cannabis affects people’s intelligence, reasoning and emotions.

 

While Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul insists the government has no policy promoting the recreational use of marijuana, critics say the plan to decriminalise marijuana is exactly that; especially for the young generation.

 

The Bhumjaithai Party, a key partner of the ruling coalition, has insisted that it will never backtrack on its policy to legalise marijuana. Several agencies under the Public Health Ministry, like Food and Drug Administration, have also supported the use of cannabis.

 

These agencies have assured the public that if the Marijuana Bill is passed, Thailand will have better control over cannabis use. The bill is still in its second reading in the House of Representatives but the future of legal cannabis is far from clear.

 

Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/12/whats-in-store-for-legal-cannabis-in-2023/

 

-- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-12-21

 

- 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!

[Harsh Jones]

 

I can see both sides of the argument. For all practical purposes , marijuana should be legal. But the problem is, there is no countries surrounding Thailand and in greater Asia who are anywhere close to taking this step. This has turned Thailand into the Netherlands of Asia. Marijuana fiends from the whole continent of Asia and the rest of the world are descending into Thailand for this reason. The authorities thought they were legalizing the domestic market. When really, its going to become a lot bigger than that

[BritManToo]

41 minutes ago, Harsh Jones said:

But the problem is, there is no countries surrounding Thailand and in greater Asia who are anywhere close to taking this step.

Cannabis has been freely available in Vietnam and Cambodia forever.

$10 a bag (although they always initially asked foreigners for $20).

[animatic]

1 hour ago, Harsh Jones said:

 

I can see both sides of the argument. For all practical purposes , marijuana should be legal. But the problem is, there is no countries surrounding Thailand and in greater Asia who are anywhere close to taking this step. This has turned Thailand into the Netherlands of Asia. Marijuana fiends from the whole continent of Asia and the rest of the world are descending into Thailand for this reason. The authorities thought they were legalizing the domestic market. When really, its going to become a lot bigger than that

Marijuana fiends?  
Never met one.

been watching a cannabis cafe the last month or two. No fights no children, just nice adult people relaxing and enjoying coffee a few beers and a few puffs.
 

No fiends to be found.

and much less alcohol consumption. Which might well explain who is behind the push back efforts….

More pot less booze sold. Solid connection to who loses. It’s not society, it’s booze producers

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by animatic
Typo

[Ali Katz]

Thai government should push a With Freedom Comes Responsibility campaign. If people would act in an intelligent mature manner there wouldn't be a necessity for so much legislation. jmho

[tandor]

....the highs and lows of a new business i suppose!

[NorthernRyland]

I don't smoke weed don't like it and don't really like the culture surrounding it. Having said that, Thailand has such a grotesque problem with alcohol and general driving conditions I find it hilarious they're pretending like weed is such a problem. Talk about getting your priorities wrong.

[shavedPotter]

Once again playing with fire to try to put this back in the box. I don't predict a long life expectancy of anyone who tries that.

[Bim Smith]

3 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

 

I can see both sides of the argument. For all practical purposes , marijuana should be legal. But the problem is, there is no countries surrounding Thailand and in greater Asia who are anywhere close to taking this step. This has turned Thailand into the Netherlands of Asia. Marijuana fiends from the whole continent of Asia and the rest of the world are descending into Thailand for this reason. The authorities thought they were legalizing the domestic market. When really, its going to become a lot bigger than that

"world are descending into Thailand for this reason". If true what a great move for the economy.

[Bim Smith]

Hungry happy high people. What a threat to society. Do you know what does the most damage to health and society as a whole. Alcohol. Case closed.

[Kwaibill]

Just my opinion, of course, but it seems to me, who is unable to smoke anything, that the “reefer madness” gang is behind the anti pitch, with support from the big booze monopolists.

The Netherlands is a perfect example of how it works, and many US states seem to manage OK despite a lack of federal decriminalization.

One of my favorite examples is my old high school chemistry class lab partner. The guy went on to become a PHD in analytical chemistry, one of the most rigorous branches of academia, puffing his way through all the class work, and has managed to get some patents on processes.

Trust me, the guy is very bright but not really a genius. I also have relatives that have organized and operated businesses with amazing success from within an MJ cloud.

IMO the ganja nay sayers are full of it.

Personally would like to try some CBD products, as a superannuated crotchety old thing.

[LukKrueng]

Great article. Says absolutely nothing.

[mfd101]

Can't help noticing the number of pot shops here in Bangers (where we're visiting from Surin for the first time in 3 years). 3 shops - one large & glamorous - just in the 100 metres between our hotel and Asoke.

 

The only thing that rivals new pot shops both here & in Silom is the number of money exchanges. And I can't help noticing - perhaps it was always like that when we lived in BKK but I'm certainly noticing them now after 3 years away - the number of Westerners on the streets, 95% male, many single, quite a few elderly and some who should be in an ol' pipple's home.

[Pinot]

Imagine trying to turn this around? They can't enforce helmet laws. Way too many baht at stake. The train has left the barn. 

 

Vape on

[Harsh Jones]

9 hours ago, animatic said:

Marijuana fiends?  
Never met one.

been watching a cannabis cafe the last month or two. No fights no children, just nice adult people relaxing and enjoying coffee a few beers and a few puffs.
 

No fiends to be found.

and much less alcohol consumption. Which might well explain who is behind the push back efforts….

More pot less booze sold. Solid connection to who loses. It’s not society, it’s booze producers

 

For the record I support the legalization of heroin and all drugs in the same grounds 

[Harsh Jones]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Cannabis has been freely available in Vietnam and Cambodia forever.

$10 a bag (although they always initially asked foreigners for $20).

Chinese, Russians, Indians ect aren't like westerners when it comes to this. They aren't gonna get involved unless its legal. 

 

Blue means legal.

[HuskerDo2]

"A roller-coaster ride for Thailand’s cannabis industry".....

 

I think "roller-coaster ride" is an appropriate analogy for the cannabis industry. Sometimes you're high and sometimes you aren't.

Edited December 21, 2022 by HuskerDo2

[Reigntax]

3 hours ago, Harsh Jones said:

Chinese, Russians, Indians ect aren't like westerners when it comes to this. They aren't gonna get involved unless its legal. 

 

Blue means legal.

Strange how the legality in the ACT never gets a mention or never causes a problem.  Then again it’s full of public servants so it would be difficult to tell if one was stoned and asleep or just at work and asleep 

[hotchilli]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Critics suggest the government consider cancelling the very concept before more damage is done, especially since there is no specific law that can comprehensively govern the use of cannabis.

Anutin pushed his populous baby through before guidelines were even drawn up let alone made into any laws..

This was a deflection from the Covid fiasco and Anutin trying to muster popularity for his own self enrichment.

 

[Enzian]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Anutin pushed his populous baby through before guidelines were even drawn up let alone made into any laws..

This was a deflection from the Covid fiasco and Anutin trying to muster popularity for his own self enrichment.

It's beyond me. I heard him speak in person at the FCCT about 6 months ago and he repeated with emotion that the goal is medical and that he didn't approve of mobs of westerners taking advantage. Deep down on some level he really dislikes or feels above foreigners, but at the same time anyone with half a brain could see where this was going, and boy did it! It's cognitive dissonance on a grand scale. 

[BritManToo]

29 minutes ago, Enzian said:

It's beyond me. I heard him speak in person at the FCCT about 6 months ago and he repeated with emotion that the goal is medical and that he didn't approve of mobs of westerners taking advantage. Deep down on some level he really dislikes or feels above foreigners, but at the same time anyone with half a brain could see where this was going, and boy did it! It's cognitive dissonance on a grand scale. 

The only 'real people' the ruling classes ever come in contact with are their servants.

Hardly surprising they can't relate to the real world, or what will happen in it.

[JodiReachy]

Who would have thought that Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches and cool amusement parks, would also become a player in the cannabis market? It's pretty fascinating to see how things have evolved.

Edited October 20, 2023 by JodiReachy