MFP reassures cannabis businesses amid plans to re-list as narcotic

[BritManToo]

16 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Lots of focus right now on the plight of cannabis vendors and growers, (and I'm not saying that they don't deserve some sympathy), but don't lose sight of the fact that there's a majority constituency out there who voted for parties opposed to recreational use of cannabis in Thailand.

Would point out the majority voted against the general, the policies of the other parties was largely irrelevant.

 

The MFP has a list of 45 bills they want enacted, saying that cannabis was the important one in that little lot is disingenuous at best.

Edited May 27, 2023 by BritManToo

[h90]

38 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Advertising is currently banned by edict from the MoPH.

 

AFAIK, VAT must be paid at the retail POS.

 

 

yes but the ban is not enforced....big promotions, even on the 7/11 I saw one.

I don't know what AFAIK is. But I mean tax comparable with that on beer (something like 100% I got told)

[cncltd1973]

14 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Is it actually a narcotic and why is it/was it classified as such? This is the grown up conversation that's needed. Some very well connected and powerful people would like to see it criminalised again because it's been cutting in to their real narcotic business and profits. Much of the global narcotics originate in China. Very big business with very, very, very big profits. Best to demonise dope so the profits will keep flowing. Let's put it this way would you rather your kids were having a joint or yabba. Both are available. One is destructive the other isn't.

I totally agree, my father smokes his homegrown, and my brothers and my son on occasion. if someone can be trusted with alcohol, then they should already be trusted with weed. but Thais have shown how irresponsible they are with multiple substances so the gov is having a knee-jerk reaction and taking cannabis back off the table, even though meth and alcohol (separately, or worse, together) are the actual villains. I expect many Thais new to cannabis are putting it in the mix of their normal drug routine of meth/yaba, alcohol, tramadol/kratom with M-150 to keep the ember alive. it's no wonder the headlines read like a freakshow horror script. if anything, adding the weed to the mix would take some spin off the ball, but go figure, politics is as politics does

[dinsdale]

10 minutes ago, cncltd1973 said:

I totally agree, my father smokes his homegrown, and my brothers and my son on occasion. if someone can be trusted with alcohol, then they should already be trusted with weed. but Thais have shown how irresponsible they are with multiple substances so the gov is having a knee-jerk reaction and taking cannabis back off the table, even though meth and alcohol (separately, or worse, together) are the actual villains. I expect many Thais new to cannabis are putting it in the mix of their normal drug routine of meth/yaba, alcohol, tramadol/kratom with M-150 to keep the ember alive. it's no wonder the headlines read like a freakshow horror script. if anything, adding the weed to the mix would take some spin off the ball, but go figure, politics is as politics does

I agree with what you say except for "politics is as politics does." Personally I would substitute politics with ignorance.

[newbee2022]

Good decision. Thank you!????

[cncltd1973]

11 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I agree with what you say except for "politics is as politics does." Personally I would substitute politics with ignorance.

right, weed is definitely taking the fall instead of the real drugs and ignorance plays its part.

a doctor asked me if I smoked cannabis and it was amusing to watch the mass of reactions on her face from my answer! silly how this inoffensive plant that is less harmful than tobacco will get people up in arms and red in the face when they haven't even tried a puff

[Taboo2]

If the most powerful country on the planet, with an extensive militarized police force and all the technology in the world could not stop me from getting weed, what does Thailand think they will accomplish if the re-criminalize this plant?

 

The Arrogance of Humans knows no bounds!

 

From the day I was born back in 1961, men were smoking weed in my country and they did not care about any rules.  Stop the insanity!

[dinsdale]

12 minutes ago, cncltd1973 said:

right, weed is definitely taking the fall instead of the real drugs and ignorance plays its part.

a doctor asked me if I smoked cannabis and it was amusing to watch the mass of reactions on her face from my answer! silly how this inoffensive plant that is less harmful than tobacco will get people up in arms and red in the face when they haven't even tried a puff

And this is a doctor. It really is a shame that ignorance prevails. Thais are thaught to believe what they are told even if what they are told is complete rubbish. They know no difference. Deffinitely the old keep the mushrooms in the dark and feed the ####. I still occasionally see Thais wearing bandanas around their face to 'protect them' from covid. Absolutely 100% no idea.There's misinformation and then there's no information. Thais are fed a diet of both when it comes to dope.

[bamnutsak]

1 hour ago, h90 said:

yes but the ban is not enforced

That's an "enforcement" issue, not a Cannabis issue.

 

1 hour ago, h90 said:

But I mean tax comparable with that on beer

So you propose additional taxes, over and above 7% VAT.

 

I actually agree with that. I've proposed 5%, for a total of 12%.

 

 

 

[SoilSpoil]

A bit of regulation couldnt hurt, seen that you can buy 100 grams of KDKT for 900 baht online. Kids can order and receive it by mail hassle free. 

[chalawaan]

Maybe smarter heads are looking at the North American continent, and realising the tax benefits in legalisation far outweigh any health risks -or the moral panic of ignorant, programmed "pissheads" who discount the massive societal damage of alcohol in the news worldwide, daily.

We can but hope. 

[chalawaan]

18 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

A bit of regulation couldnt hurt, seen that you can buy 100 grams of KDKT for 900 baht online. Kids can order and receive it by mail hassle free. 

Any Thai kid who can get a hold of B900 to blow on weed is either a juvenile delinquent, or a figment of your imagination. 

The delinquent is going to be that way no matter what laws exist. 

Your argument is a great example of moral panic, it is regressive thinking based on false assumptions. 

[chalawaan]

2 hours ago, h90 said:

And why would you do that? You should only punish someone who does harm to someone else or at least endanger someone (like drunk driving). Someone smoking at home. Punish him because it is a sin or why?

Redwood1 is having a laugh. That kind of Singaporean style nonsense doesn't deserve a response from reasonable people. 

I saw many reefers being enjoyed in Singapore during my time there.

Although at that point in my life, it was not my drug of choice, their over the top death laws didn't appear to stop anyone who wanted to use weed, ecstasy, or even cocaine!  Especially among wealthy expats living there, or their Singaporean WAGs. ????

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

It's one of many "options".

 

I don't think there is a "plan" as of today. There isn't even a Government yet, let alone a cabinet, let alone the opening of a Parliamentary session.

 

A Cannabis Control Act did pass the first reading OVERWHELMINGLY last year. That might be a good place to start with legislation?

 

373 MPs voted in support of the bill, with 7 against. 23 MPs abstained.

 

 

 

There are several options.

 

Re-listing Cannabis Flower as a Narcotic is a long-shot, ~ 5 % chance.

 

Medical only (probably not available to resident foreigners or tourists), control ceded to DTAM.

 

Personal use (called "free use" in the Thai Cannabis vernacular), with very strict controls, tracking seed to shelf and sale and limited retail outlets.

 

 

The MVF message seems to be "Look, this isn't a major issue for our government. There are many, many, many larger issues which need to be addressed. We'll sort the Cannabis issue and we'll consider the ramifications on existing producers and sellers so as to minimize the negative effects on them."

 

 

 

 

Wishful thinking, recreational use is on the hit list

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, h90 said:

How many doctors will prescribe it?

Doctors in hospitals who have diagnosed certain ailments and prescribe it as a treatment.

As they do daily with all the other controlled medications.

Edited May 27, 2023 by hotchilli

[scotsman]

If the new Government does put cannabis back on the illegal list and not Alcohol and tobacco witch is also a drug but way more harmful would be hypocritical.  Once you pass into law that all 3 of these drugs are now legal ,then just picking the least harmful one is crazy in my opinion.  If you ban one you must ban all but we all know money talks so in my opinion none of them will be band just regulated, but we shall see in Time.

Regards 

Scotsman     

PS you can buy as much paracetamol in Thailand as you like but its regulated in the UK pharmacies as they only sell you so much at a time.  Paracetamol can also be a harmful drug.   Do you ban them as well I know its a silly example but that is how crazy this knee jerk reaction to Cannabis is.   

[SoilSpoil]

3 hours ago, chalawaan said:

Any Thai kid who can get a hold of B900 to blow on weed is either a juvenile delinquent, or a figment of your imagination. 

The delinquent is going to be that way no matter what laws exist. 

Your argument is a great example of moral panic, it is regressive thinking based on false assumptions. 

You clearly live in a perpetual state of denial, most likely because you use cannabis yourself. Children can and do order cannabis online and the express services do hand it to them without questions asked. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by SoilSpoil

[dinsdale]

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Medical use... not recreational.. what do you not understand?

If they only want to sell as a recreational drug then they're in the wrong business.

I'm sorry but I think maybe you misunderstand something. Most people don't care about 'medical' dope. Marijuana has been available to buy (not legally until recently of couse) since I've been here and not too long before that you could buy it from the Chinese 'pharmacies' (legally). It's this whole war on drugs charade that costs billions, costs lives, locks up people and let's those who run things to continue to rake in the money that's the problem. Ice is a great drug but it's highly addictive and very destructive once addicted. Cocaine is amazing but again highly addictive. Heroin if pure is fantastic but again very addictive if you let it be so. Opium, extremely laid back drug but again very addictive. Dope is just a nice drug on it's own and and less harmful from the previous drugs I've mentioned and also less harmful than alcohol or tabacco. It should not be put into the same basket. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by dinsdale

[BritManToo]

36 minutes ago, SoilSpoil said:

You clearly live in a perpetual state of denial, most likely because you use cannabis yourself. Children can and do order cannabis online and the express services do hand it to them without questions asked. 

Meth tablets are 25bht and available everywhere, why would kids want cannabis @ 500bht/gm?

Edited May 27, 2023 by BritManToo

[BritManToo]

5 hours ago, h90 said:

How many doctors will prescribe it?

Almost all that want 500bht for a prescription.

[dinsdale]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Meth tablets are 25bht and available everywhere, why would kids want cannabis @ 500bht/gm?

Exactly right. As I've been saying vested interests want this to remain so. Sorry they want dope to be criminalised again. Mind you Bt500 for a gram is IMO a crime.

[bamnutsak]

AFAIK, Cannabis is only currently approved in Thailand for treatment for the following:

 

1. Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
2. Epilepsy that is difficult to treat
3. Spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis.
4. Neuropathic pain
5. Anorexia in underweight patients with AIDS,
6. Improving quality of life in patients receiving palliative care or end-of-life patients

 

May be beneficial for conditions including generalized anxiety disorder, Parkinson
disease, Alzheimer disease, and demyelinating disease
Might be beneficial for cancer treatment, but more information and research are needed
 

 

 

[bamnutsak]

Reports in the press say meth prices per tab are down to 2 baht each, from 300 baht a few years ago.

 

That said, I'm not sure price per dosage is something relevant when comparing with Cannabis. They are completely different markets.

 

 

[bamnutsak]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Wishful thinking, recreational use is on the hit list

This is your opinion?

 

Or are you privy to the "hit list"?

 

 

[jvs]

11 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Put all the reefer addicts in prison , problem solved.....One toke should be one life  sentence.....2 tokes should be 2 life sentences and so on.... 

Good idea and while they are at it they should also put stupid idiots in jail.

One stupid post,life,two stupid posts 2 life sentences and so on.

 

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, bamnutsak said:

This is your opinion?

 

Or are you privy to the "hit list"?

 

 

MFP have made it clear 

[quake]

oops. 

Edited May 27, 2023 by quake

[bamnutsak]

18 hours ago, SoilSpoil said:

A bit of regulation couldnt hurt, seen that you can buy 100 grams of KDKT for 900 baht online. Kids can order and receive it by mail hassle free. 

On-line sales were banned by edict from the MoPH on/about 12 Nov 2022.

 

Yes, we all know that this has only been enforced on the larger online platforms, only because those companies don't want to run afoul of the changing environment.

 

Again, there are rules and regulations. That they are not being enforced is neither a Cannabis problem or a "law" problem. Yes, we all agree that there need to be more regulations, restrictions, etc. I guess the police have taken a hands-off approach until they are directed to enforce existing regulations. The RTP still report to Caretaker PM Prayuth. 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2023 by bamnutsak

[bamnutsak]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

MFP have made it clear 

Have they though? This very thread starts off with a "less than clear" potential outcome.

 

Any "message" seems to be

 

"When we get around to doing something we'll try to make it as easy on folks as we can. For now, don't worry, and carry on growing, selling (as licensed), and consuming for personal use."

 

I'm not the only one here doing some "wishful thinking"?

 

 

[2009]

They should be called the Move Backward party.