Narcotic or not? Thailand’s cannabis industry in the balance as parties battle it out ahead of polls

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

The fate of Thailand’s cannabis industry may hang on who wins the upcoming general election. Several parties are keen to undo the herb’s decriminalization that went into full effect in mid-2022.

 

Among them are the Pheu Thai, Democrat and Move Forward parties, all of whom have announced their stance clearly ahead of the election, which is tentatively set for May 7.

 

Marijuana policy

 

Pheu Thai’s deputy leader Sutin Klungsang said his party plans to restrict the use of marijuana to medical and research purposes.

 

“We do not accept marijuana being used for recreational purposes and have stood by this policy all along,” he said.

 

Sutin declared that if Pheu Thai forms the next government, it will take charge of the Public Health Ministry and tighten marijuana regulations.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/narcotic-or-not-thailands-cannabis-industry-in-the-balance-as-parties-battle-it-out-ahead-of-polls/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-03-15

 

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[tomacht8]

The strict anti-cannabis positioning of the three parties mentioned, could be a big mistake. There are already 1.38 million registered growers and probably 10-30 million consumers. For which party will they vote for, when criminalization, penalties and imprisonment are threatened to the people again?

 

This anti-cannabis positioning will most likely cost these parties millions of votes.

 

A very popolistic issue at the moment, but there are far more important issues for Thailand's parties to address.

Edited March 15, 2023 by tomacht8

[movsrus]

Perhaps the political talking heads ought to make a stroll around any good sized Thai town and see how the marijuana business has developed. There is no way they can make this controlled once again after the market has grown to what it is now.

 

What will happen is another option for bent cops to put the bite on people for a bribe. The Mercedes Benz dealers in Bangkok are grinning ear to ear thinking of the windfall coming their way from this new shake down. 

 

At times I wonder if these fools could find their asses with both hands and a set of directions. 

 

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

16 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

The strict anti-cannabis positioning of the three parties mentioned, could be a big mistake. There are already 1.38 million registered growers and probably 10-30 million consumers. For which party will they vote for, when criminalization, penalties and imprisonment are threatened to the people again?

 

This anti-cannabis positioning will most likely cost these parties millions of votes.

 

A very popolistic issue at the moment, but there are far more important issues for Thailand's parties to address.

OP is assuming there will be an election when votes made by the people are counted.

As far as I can see, the existing guys in charge will only lose if someone kills them all.

IMHO cannabis is 100% safe.

Edited March 15, 2023 by BritManToo

[d4dang]

the Boys in Green have big money invested and are enjoying the financial/green harvest. The opposition parties are not in the food chain so they they oppose legalization.

If there is a coalition government their stance will probably change if offered part of the cash flow.

[CLW]

Why all this hate against the cannabis legalisation? Has it so far caused any trouble to the society besides creating countless businesses and employment opportunities?

As already said by other posters, I think Thailand has more pressing issues than a re-criminalization of cannabis or any step backwards as the current state.

[ignore it]

Like when they election lie about ending corruption or reforming the RTP, nothing changes.

So let them blow smoke about recriminalizing weed.

BFD.

If I was Thai, I'd vote for anyone that bans intrusive mid-page click bait pop up internet ads.

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by ignore it

[curlylekan]

"Several medical associations and civic networks also believe cannabis should be banned again before its recreational use gets out of hand. Estimates indicate that last year alone, up to 11 million Thais used cannabis for recreational purposes following decriminalization. This includes not just smoking pot, but adding it to beverages, foods, etc. The figure jumped by more than 900% from 2021."

 

This doesn't mean it is all one way or the other. You don't need to ban it, just make laws and enforce them, like you do with alcohol.

[khunjeff]

"a legal vacuum exists when it comes to the use of cannabis"

 

Or, to phrase it differently, the use of cannabis is not illegal!

 

Some other areas where "a legal vacuum exists":

 

- speaking French in public

- wearing hats

- snoring

- eating pretzels

[malibukid]

the air in Chiang Mai is way more dangerous.

[JustThisOnePostOnly]

I refuse to believe that Thailand is going to do this.  Covid has already delivered a huge body blow to so many small Thai businesses.  So just as they get back up, we're going to deliver another body blow?

 

Cannabis has had to have been a part of Thai culture going back thousands of years.  You can't possibly develop a strain of sativa that is grown outdoors and of such quality without lots of time invested into it.  There has been no reefer madness.  Thailand is doing good!

[MrMuddle]

So which Party should the Missus vote for, that's in favour of keeping Cannabis legal?

[Enoon]

9 hours ago, BritManToo said:

OP is assuming there will be an election when votes made by the people are counted.

As far as I can see, the existing guys in charge will only lose if someone kills them all.

IMHO cannabis is 100% safe.

It is not "safe".

 

You're living in the past (not a surprise on these pages).

 

The psychoactive elements in it are far more refined, potent and concentrated than they were in......OMG, I'm going to say it....."My day".

 

Any number of scholarly articles are available describing the situation now:

 

"As the strength or potency of cannabis products has increased internationally over the years, so have rates of people being treated for cannabis addiction, say the authors of a new study....................Cannabis potency refers to the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis - the key psychoactive drug it contains. Recent studies from the same team at Bath have found that the concentration of THC in cannabis has increased significantly over time meaning that cannabis used today is typically much stronger than previously.........These findings may help to explain why more people have received treatment for cannabis problems over recent years. Data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction show a 76% increase in people entering treatment for cannabis addiction in the past decade."

https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/high-strength-cannabis-linked-to-addiction-and-mental-health-problems/

 

https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-conditions/cannabis-and-mental-health/

 

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/there-link-between-marijuana-use-psychiatric-disorders

 

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.597725/full

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 15, 2023 by Enoon

[BritManToo]

26 minutes ago, Enoon said:

It is not "safe

I meant 'safe from being outlawed again' 

[stoner]

let's celebrate this news................

 

free seeds to anyone who wants them. a list of available strains can be provided. all seeds are regular not feminized. but lots to be had.  

 

overgrow the government !! 

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Pheu Thai’s deputy leader Sutin Klungsang said his party plans to restrict the use of marijuana to medical and research purposes.

That's what Anutin said... lies.

[bamnutsak]

22 hours ago, webfact said:

Among them are the Pheu Thai, Democrat and Move Forward parties, all of whom have announced their stance clearly ahead of the election, which is tentatively set for May 7.

The Dems are irrelevant as more and more members jump ship

 

Unless PTP garners a super majority of MP seats, or otherwise could form a coalition, this is largely irrelevant.

 

The powers that be will not allow that to happen.

 

PPRP and UTN, along with BJT will form the next government. I do not believe that any of these three will highlight cannabis normalization as a MAJOR campaign issue, nor should it be. There are at least two dozen other, more important issues.

 

I think their position will be to let the next Parliamentary seesion deal with the Cannabis Control Act, as it should be. The next parliament can debate personal use/medical-only, and any other controls, or put it back on the Narcotics list and fill up the prisons. By that time there will be a full year's history for folks to deal with the pluses and minuses.

 

I thinkw e can all agree that young people should not have easy access to booze, tobacco, gambling, cannabis. Currently cannabis sales are restricted to those twenty-years and above.

 

I think most of these "house is on fire because of cannabis normalization" articles are click-bait. The sources know they get a huge response so they keep manufacturing them. The amount of negative press far outweighs the impact on daily life. Inspiring outrage in your customer set seems to be the only way to maintain numbers and rise above the others in the cesspool.

 

 

 

[Jael]

Weed is controversial, but have no problem with others using it.

Weed can be beneficial or harmful depending how each person.

[jvs]

When you look at the real facts,has the Thai society fallen apart because

of the legalization of weed?

I think they are doing just fine,the real issue is less beer and liquor being

used(sold) and that is hurting some wallets.

Alcohol is a far bigger danger to society but it does bring in a lot of cash

and taxes.

The real danger is Yaba.

[Enoon]

On 3/15/2023 at 1:06 PM, Enoon said:

It is not "safe".

 

You're living in the past (not a surprise on these pages).

 

The psychoactive elements in it are far more refined, potent and concentrated than they were in......OMG, I'm going to say it....."My day".

 

Any number of scholarly articles are available describing the situation now:

 

"As the strength or potency of cannabis products has increased internationally over the years, so have rates of people being treated for cannabis addiction, say the authors of a new study....................Cannabis potency refers to the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis - the key psychoactive drug it contains. Recent studies from the same team at Bath have found that the concentration of THC in cannabis has increased significantly over time meaning that cannabis used today is typically much stronger than previously.........These findings may help to explain why more people have received treatment for cannabis problems over recent years. Data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction show a 76% increase in people entering treatment for cannabis addiction in the past decade."

https://www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/high-strength-cannabis-linked-to-addiction-and-mental-health-problems/

 

https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-conditions/cannabis-and-mental-health/

 

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/there-link-between-marijuana-use-psychiatric-disorders

 

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.597725/full

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reactions to above post: 

 

Stoners confused?.......no surprises there.

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Enoon

[Enoon]

Everywhere that cannabis has been legalised has seen a rise in emergency admissions due to its use.

 

The stoner view is as pernicious and disingenuous as was that of the tobacco industry when the reality of the dangers of cigarette smoking began to be revealed.

 

It should be taken no more seriously than the exhortations of the alcohol industry for people to "drink responsibly".

 

Three of a kind.

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by Enoon

[sherwood]

There really are some drop kicks in this world. 

[userabcd]

On sukhumvit road foreigners are now smoking this stuff on the sidewalks.

 

I object to having to breathe in that awful pungent smell wafting around on the sidewalk.

 

Time they banned this stuff and arrest those smoking this narcotic openly on the sidewalks, the situation in a short time has already started to get out of hand.

Edited March 21, 2023 by userabcd

[SABloke]

On 3/15/2023 at 9:39 AM, webfact said:

The fate of Thailand’s cannabis industry may hang on who wins the upcoming general election.

Nah, it's not going anywhere. Too much money in it. 

 

On 3/15/2023 at 9:39 AM, webfact said:

Several parties are keen to undo the herb’s decriminalization that went into full effect in mid-2022.

They're just trying to get the conservative/older vote - as soon as they're in power they'll come up with excuses. 

 

It happens all the time: remember when Anutin promised his base that he would not join any coalition that supported Prayuth ????

Edited March 21, 2023 by SABloke

[bamnutsak]

9 hours ago, Enoon said:

Stoners confused?.......no surprises there.

Your "opinion" was met with the deserved derision, and your only comeback is a personal insult? Lame.

 

 

9 hours ago, Enoon said:

Everywhere that cannabis has been legalised has seen a rise in emergency admissions due to its use.

"Everywhere". That's a bold statement.

 

Feel free to compare and contrast the death tolls for alcohol, tobacco, meth, opioids and Cannabis.

 

5 hours ago, userabcd said:

I object to having to breathe in that awful pungent smell wafting around on the sidewalk.

Some (more?) feel the same way about tobacco.

 

You can file a police report as smoking in public where it causes an annoyance is illegal.

 

 

I find it odd that so many people here feel the need to tell others how to live their lives. Why would I care if millions of Thais consume cannabis? Rather that than yaba. Cannabis users are a bit more mellow than meth-heads.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by bamnutsak