Thai Marijuana tycoons ponder mixed messaging from the Move Forward-led coalition on the drug

[webfact]

Newly established Thai marijuana tycoons in the fast-growing and profitable industry, licensed by the government, are worried. Last week, they got an assurance from Move Forward’s Deputy Leader Sirikanya Tansakul that their business concerns would not face closure in the decisive action the eight-party coalition has promised to take to rein in and control the cannabis free for all seen throughout Thailand driven by the illegal recreational use of the drug which is currently unrestricted by the Royal Thai Police due to a legal vacuum. All this may change when the drug is, again, listed as an illegal narcotic by the Ministry of Public Health.

Move Forward deputy leader has given an assurance to operators licenced by authorities in respect of marijuana or cannabis that their businesses will not be closed down by the new government’s promise to control the widespread use of the drug in public and again outlaw its recreational use. One suggestion is that the use of marijuana or cannabis be treated as a medical prescription requiring clinical authorisation and only to take place within designated areas closed off to the public.

There are early indications that the Move Forward-led government, if it takes office as expected in August, even in the face of mounting hurdles, will move to relist cannabis or marijuana as a scheduled narcotic while also clamping down on the importation of high-quality cannabis or marijuana into Thailand. The imported pot currently dominates the recreational use market that has developed since the legalisation of the drug with over 2,000 retail outlets across the kingdom. At the same time, the Deputy Leader of the progressive party which dramatically won the May 14th General Election, Ms Sirikanya Tansakul, has given assurances to all established business concerns in the trade that a regulatory framework will be put in place to allow them to carry on their business in accordance with the licences granted to them.

 

There remains anxiety among the young marijuana tycoons who sprang up since June 2022 as to whether it will be a constricted regime where only those with medical prescriptions can buy the drug, something advocated by many among the public or something more akin to the effective free for all in place today, perhaps with more police oversight. It is acknowledged that in the eight-party coalition, there is some sympathy for the new trade from the party at its head, which, in 2019, was in the vanguard of campaigning for reform of the laws governing its use. 

 

A Move Forward-led government intends to clamp down on the current free for all in the sale and use of cannabis and marijuana across Thailand and particularly in tourist hotspots.

 

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/05/31/new-thai-marijuana-tycoons-ponder-future-move-forward-led-government/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2023-06-01

 

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[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Move Forward deputy leader has given an assurance to operators licenced by authorities in respect of marijuana or cannabis that their businesses will not be closed down by the new government’s promise to control the widespread use of the drug in public and again outlaw its recreational use. One suggestion is that the use of marijuana or cannabis be treated as a medical prescription requiring clinical authorisation and only to take place within designated areas closed off to the public

The tycoons are safe, the growers are safe, all registered businesses are safe

the unlicensed street sellers are not..

which is how it should be.

[Pouatchee]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Move Forward deputy leader has given an assurance to operators licenced by authorities in respect of marijuana or cannabis that their businesses will not be closed down by the new government’s promise to control the widespread use of the drug in public and again outlaw its recreational use.

of course they won't be closed. they will just go out of business by themselves due to a lack of consumers. as for medical marijuana? good luck finding a doctor who will sign off on that. mfp looked like a beacon but they are just turning out to be a bunch of idiots

[Pouatchee]

11 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The tycoons are safe, the growers are safe, all registered businesses are safe

the unlicensed street sellers are not..

which is how it should be.

I guess we both wish... but that is just wishful thinking innit? and just cos you wish it dont make it so. fact is, no one will be safe if they enjoy a smoke

plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose

[h90]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The tycoons are safe, the growers are safe, all registered businesses are safe

the unlicensed street sellers are not..

which is how it should be.

No they are not....if for medical use only and you need to see a doctor first who take a 2000 Baht and than buy the marijuana from a medical place the legal business will shrink 99%. Back to buy from the mafia-dealer....Reversing the only good thing that Anutin ever did.

[hotchilli]

3 minutes ago, h90 said:

No they are not....if for medical use only and you need to see a doctor first who take a 2000 Baht and than buy the marijuana from a medical place the legal business will shrink 99%. Back to buy from the mafia-dealer....Reversing the only good thing that Anutin ever did.

I reserve the right to disagree... 

[Pouatchee]

1 minute ago, hotchilli said:

I reserve the right to disagree... 

dude...we are on the same side, but unfortunately you are behind the 8 ball on this one sad to say you are wrong

[stoner]

30 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The tycoons are safe, the growers are safe, all registered businesses are safe

the unlicensed street sellers are not..

which is how it should be.

i am one of those tycoons. 

[Wuvu2]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

the young marijuana tycoons

What total nonsense. The tycoons of Thailand are the CP conglomerate and their peers. The naive entrepreneurs that entered the industry before the legal dust settles will get crushed once the legal environment is clear and the real tycoons get involved. 

 

Just look at California. Legalization didn't turn out well for small scale entrepreneurs at all ????

[h90]

7 minutes ago, Wuvu2 said:

What total nonsense. The tycoons of Thailand are the CP conglomerate and their peers. The naive entrepreneurs that entered the industry before the legal dust settles will get crushed once the legal environment is clear and the real tycoons get involved. 

 

Just look at California. Legalization didn't turn out well for small scale entrepreneurs at all ????

Well you can grow yourself and share with the neighbor if it is legal.....I don't know how it is in Thailand but in Europe the weed grows very easy...

[ezzra]

Suffice to say that Thailand has completely lost the plot when it comes to the marijuana issue, not knowing which way to turn to please everybody, nd if this is the mark of things to come by  the new government than Thailand is in big troubles.

[h90]

15 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Suffice to say that Thailand has completely lost the plot when it comes to the marijuana issue, not knowing which way to turn to please everybody, nd if this is the mark of things to come by  the new government than Thailand is in big troubles.

The new government has lost the plot. Before the "do-nothing" approach worked well beside some anti drug anti alcohol anti sex anti everything hypocrites. As there are still none of the Marijuana overdose deaths on the street it would have calm down.

[quake]

27 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Suffice to say that Thailand has completely lost the plot when it comes to the marijuana issue, not knowing which way to turn to please everybody, nd if this is the mark of things to come by  the new government than Thailand is in big troubles.

Yeap

This is the way it will all unfold.

U-turns, flip flops, finger pointing, blame game culture on steroids.

The next few years will be a hoot, to watch.

and pretty sure none of it will effect us much.

( if you have the funds to stay that is )

TIT.

 

 

[Bday Prang]

There is probably more vocal opposition on this forum than in the whole of the rest of the country. Not really surprising when one considers the average age of the people who post on here, Change is  never received well by  those ripe for the nursing home    Fortunately their views don't count here and  the generations that still believe everything governments tell them is getting thinner on the ground and will continue to do so     

[ignore it]

Thought a tycoon was a wealthy powerful person in business or industry.

 

Well known like the Big C guy or the Red Bulls.

 

 

[Jingthing]

Tycoons.

Schmycoons.

Move Forward. 

Schmove Schmorward.

 

Geeze Louise.

Make up your minds.

 

This all is clear as mud.

They have a good thing going.

Let's mess it up.

That's the ticket.

 

Send me a memo when I need to flush my stash down the toilet.

 

Don't want to wait till the po-po comes knocking.

[chrischronic]

"control the widespread use of the drug in public and again outlaw its recreational use."   

 I'm concerned about the idea of outlawing recreational use of the drug, especially if I had a shop. How would the business survive without recreational use? Would possessing and smoking it become punishable by law? Personally, I have a doctor's certificate obtained from Sawasdee Clinic when only THC oil was available, so I'm not worried for myself. However, if they outlaw recreational use, the shops will likely fade out.

[jcmj]

I think MF needs to keep quiet about all their new ideas or reforms until they are actually in power. They are stirring the pot with many of their supporters. 

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, chrischronic said:

"control the widespread use of the drug in public and again outlaw its recreational use."   

 I'm concerned about the idea of outlawing recreational use of the drug, especially if I had a shop. How would the business survive without recreational use? Would possessing and smoking it become punishable by law? Personally, I have a doctor's certificate obtained from Sawasdee Clinic when only THC oil was available, so I'm not worried for myself. However, if they outlaw recreational use, the shops will likely fade out.

How about a B.S. solution?

Have a medical student working at the shops.

Hello Doc, my back hurts.

Here's your get out of jail free card for 1000 baht, 900 goes to the government.

Now buy any strain you like.

Happy trails.

[Airalee]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The tycoons are safe, the growers are safe, all registered businesses are safe

the unlicensed street sellers are not..

which is how it should be.

How should it be for people who sell booze illegally?  
 

Oh….you don’t care….because they will happily break the law with a smile for you.

 

What about the inhalant issue and the dangers of children/teens sniffing glue?  

 

I see that doesn’t bother you either.

 

Yup…..priorities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flexomike]

5 hours ago, stoner said:

i am one of those tycoons. 

Don't you mean Thaicoons

 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Airalee said:

How should it be for people who sell booze illegally?  
 

Oh….you don’t care….because they will happily break the law with a smile for you.

 

What about the inhalant issue and the dangers of children/teens sniffing glue?  

 

I see that doesn’t bother you either.

 

Yup…..priorities.

Actually I do care, these are similar issues which all need addressing, not adding to; which was the point of my post.

[Airalee]

Just now, hotchilli said:

Actually I do care, these are similar issues which all need addressing, not adding to; which was the point of my post.

Dig deeper

[WHansen]

A doctors letter shouldn't be hard to obtain for personal use.

We all need a doctors 'fit to drive' cert when we want a driving licence or renewal,

"Name ?" - "you feel ok ?" - blood pressure test > "40 baht please" - Medical cert provided.

Hello Dr, a fit to smoke cert please......