Thailand’s experiment with weed goes up in smoke

[BenStark]

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

In my opinion I think yaba/methamphedamines/ice etc should be legalalised. Let's break the banks of the Chinese drug cartels and their big time mates here.

You should engage a few brain cells before you make a comment like this again.

 

Have you seen what damage methamphetamines do?

 

And which cartel banks you gonna break? Yaba cost less than a fried rice with chicken

[mania]

5 hours ago, redwood1 said:

There are 4358 weed shops  https://weed.th/  in Thailand... I bet more like 6000-7000.....Plus loads of growers and online sellers...

 

It CAN NOT BE SHUT DOWN fast...

Why not? It is because it was allowed to open FAST that this whole mess is what it is now.

 

Same as always no planning or foresight. Just the usual free for all then say .......oh did we do that?

 

Many of the front runners that opened the big shops were basically insider trading. It was obvious they had knowledge it would be allowed by the speed with which they were in full swing with previously illegal product that takes longer than that to grow/acquire

 

To top it off this being Thailand with the monkey see monkey do business model they instantly over developed the sector. Everyone copy everyone & none made money anyway as made clear by recent articles claiming US weed prices was eating their lunch.

 

Anyway SOS different day.

[webfact]

Cannabis divide deepens ahead of General Election in Thailand
by Mitch Connor

 

Picture courtesy of @backpacklife.

The future of marijuana in Thailand may become uncertain as political parties contesting in the upcoming national election call for the repeal of cannabis decriminalisation, which has been in effect for approximately one year. Pheu Thai Party‘s Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a prime ministerial candidate, has voiced her concerns about liberalised cannabis at a recent rally, stating the need to suppress drugs.

 

The legal vacuum that emerged from decriminalisation has caused frustration among politicians and citizens alike, as the new industry was introduced before lawmakers could assess and pass regulations for its control. Some lawmakers believe the legislation proposed to restrict the broader use of the drug does not sufficiently limit recreational use.

As regulations remain minimal, Thailand’s cannabis industry has experienced rapid growth, with projections estimating the market to reach a value of US$1 billion by 2025, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. The outcome of the weekend vote has left those involved in the cannabis supply chain uncertain of their futures.

 

Many growers, including 60 year old Olarn Youkanchanaset, are anxious about their investments in the cannabis industry if the policy were to become threatened once more by political parties seeking to re-list the drug as a narcotic. 

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/cannabis-divide-deepens-ahead-of-thailands-election

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-13

 

- 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.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[it is what it is]

the ever increasing number of weed shops and smell of marijuana smoke in the street is not a good optic for any country

[freedomnow]

Same old same old...flip to flop as always at the governmental rule making level in LoS.

Up to this point, has weed decimated the country...? Odd daft story here and there with foreigners throwing fridges off verandas blaming it on weed...uuuh.

Is every street reeking of weed smokers walking in front...? Nope.

It has been a fairly low-key change.

 

[Bim Smith]

Good luck getting that cat back in the bag.

[spidermike007]

Few have ever died of ganga poisoning, a bad liver from ganga, nor a car accident from being high. Yet, millions around the world continue to die from alcohol related deaths. Do any of these political parties care? Are any of them willing to fight the billionaire brewers? 

 

Again, nincompoops being on the wrong side of history. 

[Luuk Chaai]

10 hours ago, stoner said:

anutin for the win. 

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

And what happens to all the Thais that spent money creating shops etc?

Bye bye

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, bignok said:

Coffee shops

A lot of them are already next to coffee shops. It is said, so many 'shops' sprung up and reflect an investment by someone in a new opportunity they thought there was. 

[bradiston]

"After four years of support from the ruling coalition government, Thailand is expected to vote against the decriminalisation of marijuana in Sunday’s general election."

 

What the heck does this sentence mean? For or against, it's not what Thailand is voting for. It's a general election, not a vote on weed control. Media spin, par excellence. As throughout the whole decriminalisation process.

[Chongalulu]

10 hours ago, save the frogs said:

great news!

and please also ban Pink Floyd music in the kingdom. 

Ah,a Bay City Rollers fan. I wondered where he was… ???? 

[IslandLover]

12 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

I made the mistake of trying to get a coffee in a Rotterdam "coffee shop" (I was young and naive).

 

I did actually get a coffee, and an education

Partaking of weed is tolerated in the Netherlands and you can buy it freely from "coffee shops" in major cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, but try growing it yourself and you can expect a visit from the cops. ????

[CartagenaWarlock]

12 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

And what happens to all the Thais that spent money creating shops etc?

I read most shops are financed by foreign money. I believe it will be available but illegally with police harassment and bribing, thus driving up price. Legal thai bricks are available now for 300 baht/package (in 20 gram packages), and it used to be 1,000/baht for 20 gram packages when illegal. 

[Chongalulu]

6 hours ago, BenStark said:

Yaba cost less than a fried rice with chicken

Choices,choices… ???? 

[malibukid]

13 hours ago, bignok said:

Coffee shops

nail salons

[tandor]

13 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

And what happens to all the Thais that spent money creating shops etc?

..they all knew it maybe short-lived

[kennw]

13 hours ago, Mitkof Island said:

And what happens to all the Thais that spent money creating shops etc?

They will lose it, great news because you just have to look at who are the people behind that money.

[dinsdale]

6 hours ago, BenStark said:

You should engage a few brain cells before you make a comment like this again.

 

Have you seen what damage methamphetamines do?

 

And which cartel banks you gonna break? Yaba cost less than a fried rice with chicken

It seems you miss the jist of my post apart from that how much do 10's of millions, billions even, of fried rice with chicken cost? Maybe the brain cells that need engaging are not mine.

[Xonax]

10,000 Baht in the wallet is more important to the majority of Thais than free Marihuana. Most voters are not even tax-payers and will be more than happy to let others pay the bill.  Why hasn't the Pheu Thai party not been banned for this vote buying policy?

[fallup88]

10 hours ago, billd766 said:

Because NO law was passed making it legal to smoke pot recreationally.

 

I DO try to keep up to date with things in Thailand.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jan/10/consuming-cannabis-in-thailand-what-tourists-need-to-know-marijuana-weed-rules#:~:text=Smoking it can be done,a three-month prison sentence.

 

Where can you consume it?
Smoking it can be done inside an individual’s residence, and cannabis inside food can be consumed at a licensed restaurant. Smoking marijuana in public places such as schools, temples and shopping malls can lead to a 25,000 baht ($750) fine and a three-month prison sentence. As a rule, Chopaka says, people should be aware of not “encroaching” on other people’s space.

 

https://www.tourismthailand.org/Articles/10-things-tourists-need-to-know-about-cannabis-in-thailand

 

10 Things Tourists need to know about cannabis in Thailand 

1. Carrying seeds or parts of the cannabis plant from and to Thailand for personal purposes are not permitted.

2. Cannabis cultivation is legal but registering in the Food and drug administration's "PLOOK GANJA" application or through government website is required.

3. Using cannabis flower buds for research, export, sale and Processing for commercial purposes requires official permit.

4. Individuals under 20 years old, Pregnant women and breastfeeding women are not eligible to use cannabis except under the supervision of health professionals.

5. Prossession of extract containing more than 0.2  THC and synthetic THC requires permission.

6. Cannabis contained dishes are available in authorized restaurants. 

7. Approved cannabis health products are accessible through specific channels.

8. Smokeing cannabis in public spaces, including schools and Shopping malls, is illegal.

9. Avoid Driving after consuming Food or health products containning cannabis.

10. Those who have serious undesirable health outcomes cannabis should promptly see doctors for treatment.

For more information, please download here.

 

These people know far more than me and all I did was a simple internet search.

 

 

 

If you believe it is legal then stand outside a police station and do it

Your link points to why it perfectly legal to smoke pot and places where it’s not allow. Weed shops are private business and thus you can smoke inside given that nobody complains about the smell surrounding the shop. It’s only illegal to smoke in public base on public nuisance laws. There is no specific law that says you can’t smoke weed in public, just like how there is no laws that specifically says you can’t smoke cigarettes in public. 

 

Weed shops need license, pays taxes, and gets checked up more so than alcohol venues as of now. It creates jobs and bring in tourism too.

 

Yes I do agree with you, it somewhat makes the place looks more seedy.

 

Many of the shops located in central city area have picked up on rental units where it has been empty since Covid. If weed shops were not there it would still be empty unit today, making it look like a drag. So it’s bringing in money and creating jobs for locals, and making the place lively again.

 

Thailand dived right in legalizing it before enough regulations are in place, that was the error.

 

By end of the year, probably 30-40% of the shops will close down due to oversupply and fierce competition.

 

No doubt there are illegal elements to it like money laundering etc, but it already goes on with alcohol establishments too. Majority are just small Thai own shops playing by the books.

[kennw]

12 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

To you?

What has your problem with alcohol got to do with the cr@p called weed?

Alcohol and driving/riding can be solved by real policing law enforcement. Second part; alcoholism up country, improve the lives and prospects of the people there. 

[onthedarkside]

Off topic conspiracy post removed

[DJ54]

So they re-criminalize pot … then re-incarcerate the convicts that got out of prison?.., IMO the fear of pot was way out of proportion fueled by people that didn’t research or researched with a blind eye. Ya ba runs rampant in the country and in every case far much more dangerous. 

 

recently a person threw a refrigerator off second story building and because he had pot it was 

believed it was caused by pot… and they were 100% wrong… what was it that caused him to go on rampage…. Yes we know .. everyone knows … it wasn’t pot.. 

 

I don’t have a horse in this race but I have first hand experience from the late 60s… pot is not as wicked as portrayed. Should there be regulations for medical and recreational use absolutely. If re-criminalized it will just go back underground it won’t go away. Prisons will be full and rehabilitation few for most illegal drugs … 

[sidneybear]

13 hours ago, transam said:

The weed thing was a bad idea to start with, it is an easy money venture that a huge number jumped straight on the bandwagon.

Anyone with half a brain knows weed shops were a bad idea, as if there weren't enough junkies in LOS as it is.

But, losing their weed shop will be no different to the bars and coffee shops that come and go in short order, with no thought, just borrow and lose by the thousands...????

True. Starting a business involves understanding risk. Weed is controversial and most politicians want to get rid of it - even Amsterdam's famous coffee shops have been scaled back. Anyone who starts a weed shop should only do so with money they can afford to lose.

[MJCM]

14 hours ago, Crossy said:

 

I made the mistake of trying to get a coffee in a Rotterdam "coffee shop" (I was young and naive).

 

I did actually get a coffee, and an education

Quote

If you’re wondering why they are called coffeeshops, the name derives from the semi-secret drug trade in cafés in the early 1970s. Mellow Yellow coffeeshop in Amsterdam (which closed in 2017) was the first to obtain a license from the City of Amsterdam in 1972.

https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/getting-around/information/practical/a-guide-to-dutch-coffeeshops.htm

[Bangkok Barry]

It's another U-turn. We would expect nothing else, would we?

[ChipButty]

Around where I live, seems like one shop every 50 metres some serious money being pumped into them, I really dont see the problem if it's off the streets people are paying rents on what normally would be empty shops, staff being employed making a bit of money, and no I dont smoke dope, 

I have to admit I dont see many customers in the places maybe lots of them wont survive, 

A few soi's down from me somebody has setup a cannabis farm if that what you call them, 

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, IslandLover said:

Partaking of weed is tolerated in the Netherlands and you can buy it freely from "coffee shops" in major cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam, but try growing it yourself and you can expect a visit from the cops. ????

Not really true. 

 Cannabis in holland is available nationwide   not just in Amsterdam  and as regards growing  .....

"The authorities won’t charge growers with less than five plants. "

https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-growing-cannabis-outdoors-in-the-netherlands-month-by-month-guide-n1293#:~:text=The bottom line%3A Cannabis possession,radar and are rarely prosecuted.

 

[onthedarkside]

Another off topic conspiracy troll post by the same member removed. Carry on and face a warning