Cannabis shops near schools allowed amid lack of specific law

[webfact]

Photo Courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

by Mitch Connor

 

Cannabis dispensaries are currently allowed to operate near schools in Thailand, as there is no specific legislation controlling their locations, according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM).

 

However, the Public Health Ministry has prohibited the sale of cannabis to individuals under 20 years old, with penalties including a one-year prison sentence, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, and a two-year license revocation for non-compliance.

 

DTAM director-general Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong’s comments come in response to reports of a cannabis cafe operating for six months near the well-known St Joseph Convent School. This has led to former politician and cannabis legalisation critic Chuwit Kamolvisit calling for the government to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The draft Cannabis-Hemp Act is still awaiting parliamentary approval, and there is no regulation on the proximity of cannabis dispensaries to educational institutions, according to Thongchai.

Over 12,000 businesses have applied to distribute, process, export, or research cannabis in 76 provinces. However, only 100 operators have consistently submitted reports on their cannabis sources, storage facilities, and distribution networks.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/cannabis-shops-near-schools-allowed-amid-lack-of-specific-law

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-05-23

 

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[JonnyF]

Simple. Enforce the age limits for purchase. Remove overt/flashy signage if necessary.

 

That will be much more effective than making the kids ride their Scoopy's and Fino's a kilometre down the road (3 up, underage, no helmet etc.) to buy it from a shop that isn't near a school.

 

Personally I think a lot of the issues with Cannabis would disappear if the flashy signage outside the shops was disallowed. Like the Thai sex trade, nobody is too worried if it's somewhat discreet and behind closed doors, but I think some of the shopfronts in the tourist areas are really rubbing the sanctimonious types up the wrong way. Image is everything in Thailand and I really don't think this is the image the "good people" are looking for their country. 

 

 

[Geoffggi]

Providing they adhere to the rules for selling the product where is the problem?

[2baht]

Shut it down now, those poor children passing the shop on the way to school, breathing the toxic cannabis fumes, will become cannabis zombies before they finish school!

[bamnutsak]

Simple.

 

Do not issue licenses to shops within some specified distance of a school.

 

End of issue.

 

My goodness, it's like these people can't get out of bed unless there is a specific law telling them to do it.

[bamnutsak]

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

nobody is too worried if it's somewhat discreet and behind closed doors

OMG, the next trend, Cannabis Curtain Shops.

 

 

[bamnutsak]

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

Over 12,000 businesses have applied to distribute, process, export, or research cannabis in 76 provinces. However, only 100 operators have consistently submitted reports on their cannabis sources, storage facilities, and distribution networks.

This is an enforcement issue, not a Cannabis issue.

 

 

[ikke1959]

Cannabis allowed, alcohol not allowed.... How to make people happy....

[Karma80]

Well, my local Home Pro mall in Chalong, Phuket has a weed stall (not shop) just near the entry to Villa. All the weed out on a table and edibles in a cabinet. Not that it matters, there's about 20 weed shops all within walking distance of that.

 

Must be catering to all those high end wealthy tourists they target.

 

 

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 I think a lot of the issues with Cannabis would disappear if the flashy signage outside the shops was disallowed. Like the Thai sex trade, nobody is too worried if it's somewhat discreet and behind closed doors, but I think some of the shopfronts in the tourist areas are really rubbing the sanctimonious types up the wrong way. Image is everything in Thailand and I really don't think this is the image the "good people" are looking for their country. 

 

 

Plenty of flashy signage for the sex trade, but its in Thai which you can't read. 

[stoutfella]

But they can't buy booze between 2pm and 5pm!

[kingstonkid]

3 hours ago, 2baht said:

Shut it down now, those poor children passing the shop on the way to school, breathing the toxic cannabis fumes, will become cannabis zombies before they finish school!

I know of the store he was talking about and agree that it is too close.  I will give it credit though there is no obvious advertising and it started out looking like a coffee shop.  It is not directly across from any major exits so as long as it keeps the are in front clean it is not an issue until the new laws get in place.

 

I definitely think though that this has got to be a first 10 days thing for the MFP/PT.

[ignore it]

Somebody should remind the weed shop inspectors that they should not test the goods.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Cannabis dispensaries are currently allowed to operate near schools in Thailand, as there is no specific legislation controlling their locations, according to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM).

Complete and utter chaos... started by the health minister.

He should leave politics.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Over 12,000 businesses have applied to distribute, process, export, or research cannabis in 76 provinces. However, only 100 operators have consistently submitted reports on their cannabis sources, storage facilities, and distribution networks.

Free-for-all shambles.

[BritManToo]

Can't see many schoolkids walking in for 1gm @ 500bht.

[2baht]

4 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Free-for-all shambles.

Great, is'nt it! I welcome a good shambles!

 

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, 2baht said:

Shut it down now, those poor children passing the shop on the way to school, breathing the toxic cannabis fumes, will become cannabis zombies before they finish school!

Makes a change from the indoctrinated zombies at home time

[JackGats]

Cannabis shops near schools are a problem. Speeding traffic right in front of the school isn't though.

[Rimbuman]

If five miles away makes a difference. 

When I was at the age of what the OP is relating to, I and my mates bought at hidden non-advertised little home dealers nowhere near a school.

The idea that all these nonsense rules and ideas matter is absolutely mind boggling.

[Will B Good]

So the kids (and staff) can nip out for a spliff, but adults can't buy alcohol in shop that is 20 miles from the nearest school.......Thailand.

[JonnyF]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Plenty of flashy signage for the sex trade, but its in Thai which you can't read. 

It's still less obnoxious than say Cowboy, or Bangla, or Walking Street.

 

You know what Thais are like, they want people to think of Thailand and think of temples, beautiful beaches, stunning Thai women wai-ing wealthy tourists as they exit first class. Not dreadlocked backpackers posting hand horn pics on FaceBook from outside a massively gawdy weed shop on Sukhumvit.

 

If it was discreet, 90% of the opposition would go quiet IMO.

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

It's still less obnoxious than say Cowboy, or Bangla, or Walking Street.

 

You know what Thais are like, they want people to think of Thailand and think of temples, beautiful beaches, stunning Thai women wai-ing wealthy tourists as they exit first class. Not dreadlocked backpackers posting hand horn pics on FaceBook from outside a massively gawdy weed shop on Sukhumvit.

 

If it was discreet, 90% of the opposition would go quiet IMO.

I think more than 99.9% of the population are already "quiet" regarding this,   It's just a very vocal minority  that vehemently oppose things ,   Both in the Thai public and on this forum, and every one of them is nothing more than a victim of "reefer madness" propaganda

[dinsdale]

7 hours ago, stoutfella said:

But they can't buy booze between 2pm and 5pm!

Are you sure? 

[stoner]

never any stories on those companies trying to follow the rules though.

[stoutfella]

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Are you sure? 

Officially.

[natway09]

Gotta love Chuwit who opened up this can of worms.

It was OK for him to have knock shops close to schools,

but that was then this is now. 

[shdmn]

I see the new gov't coalition wants to try make cannabis illegal again.  I hope that's more bark than bite.

 

 

[dinsdale]

8 hours ago, stoutfella said:

Officially.

Never heard of mom and pop shops then? There's one directly behind my closet 711. 14:01 buying a beer? No problem.

[jacko45k]

21 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Providing they adhere to the rules for selling the product where is the problem?

Near the schools probably. Restrictions are in place wrt alcohol and cigarette sales near schools aren't they (despite a 7-11 selling opposite our village school).... I  would expect similar wrt cannabis. This really has become messed up!