Thai health minister backs cannabis ban, citing surge in teen usage

[webfact]

 

Cannabis and its high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) variants should be entirely prohibited for leisure use and return to the narcotics list, says Dr Rasmon Kalayasiri, the Centre of Addiction Studies director.

 

This statement was a show of support for Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew’s proposed changes to the Cannabis and Hemp bill, initially proposed by former minister Anutin Charnvirakul and rejected by the previous House of Representatives.

 

Before the bill was presented to the House, a ministerial regulation had removed cannabis and hemp from the Category 5 narcotics list under the Narcotics Act. Dr Rasmon backed Minister Cholnan’s idea to modify the draft bill, restricting cannabis and hemp usage exclusively to medical and health purposes.

 

The new proposal would prohibit recreational use, dismiss the idea of allowing the cultivation of 15 cannabis plants per household, and reclassify the cannabis flowering parts with high THC content as narcotics.

 

Medical professionals have no reservations about the medical applications of cannabis. However, they have noticed a rise in health issues, particularly among children, resulting from recreational cannabis use, reported Bangkok Post.

 

by Mitch Connor

Picture courtesy of Kimzy Nanney, Unsplash

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-25

 

- 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.

 

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[webfact]

Potent pot to be criminalised as the minister looks at ways to suppress recreational cannabis use

by James Morris and Son Nguyen

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin speaking in New York this week. The new Prime Minister has made it clear that his government will be moving to suppress illegal drugs such as methamphetamine while the Ministry of Public Health under Dr Cholnan Srikaew is reportedly looking at new measures to rein in the widespread recreational use of marijuana or cannabis by outlawing weed or pot with high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) values.

The future of thousands of small businesses in Thailand that have thrived in the kingdom’s post-deregulation cannabis market which is now one of the world’s most open, is on the line as the Pheu Thai-led government readies its plan to tackle the problem. The widespread use of marijuana however is not receiving the support it had hoped for from the recovering foreign tourism industry and is strongly opposed by the public.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced a new drive by his government to crack down on illegal drugs in the kingdom, particularly on the scourge of speed and methamphetamine pills. It comes as the new Minister of Public Health, Dr Cholnan Srikaew, is reportedly looking at the approach the government will take to the country’s problem with the widespread use of cannabis or marijuana in the aftermath of a botched deregulation of the drug which happened after June last year.

 

This week, the tourist industry came out to support a proposed crackdown on existing widespread recreational cannabis and marijuana use which industry spokespeople made clear is not an asset to the industry or the attraction the international media portrayed last year. The availability of highly potent pot or marijuana for recreational use faces strong opposition from the public and is something the Pheu Thai Party promised before the election to suppress.

 

The tourism industry has come out in support of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who announced this week that his government would crack down on recreational use of cannabis or marijuana in Thailand, even if this includes shuttering the thousands of cannabis outlets throughout the country, driving the free-for-all, which many tourist industry insiders believe has become more of a nuisance than an attraction for the country’s critically valuable industry.

 

Full story: Thai Examiner 2023-09-25

 

- 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.

 

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[nglodnig]

Uh has anybody thought of ID checks on age? Like for alcohol and cigarettes? But this would require an enforcement of the rules by the police so an outright ban is WAY WAY easier.

 

Meanwhile I am sure yaba dealers are checking the ages of the patrons they sell to - at prices A LOT LOWER than ganja is selling for.

[HappyExpat57]

Gawd, it's always two steps forward, three steps back with these people.

[redwood1]

Srettha always has that I just smoked a few big fat bowls....And now I have the munchies and want to order a pizza, look on his face..

[geisha]

4 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

Srettha always has that I just smoked a few big fat bowls....And now I have the munchies and want to order a pizza, look on his face..

And what have you been smoking young man ??

[chrisbangkok]

It's OK,  the powers that be have banked a fair few mill by now , move on to the next short term get rich quick scheme ... must be more to be squeezed out of expats tax etc .. Chinese tourist will cover the European exits oops sorry Indian , Arab ...who's next on the merry-go-round? 

[geisha]

Im not for or against , but, I think there should be regulations , and a limit to the amount of shop openings , they’re all over the place. Drugs need licences as do alcohol  and medication. 

[jcmj]

I’m not against it, but I do question why they can sell it close to schools while they ban alcohol sales near schools. Doesn’t make much sense. I agree that all they need to do is card people, but that would take work and math so doubt that will happen. Plus little mom and pop shops will sell anything to anyone. My son got busted at school when he was 11 for having a cigarette he bought from a local shop next to his school. 

[alex8912]

With so many shops selling weed 700 to 1000 baht per gram there are very few teens even in Bangkok that can afford it.  I bet their " sample" study to even come up with this nonsense is non existent.  Millions and millions of Baht have been made since they legalized weed. It will never be illegal again because many higher ups in Thai society and police all have interest in it. Just the usual hot air. 

[2baht]

Release the Fun Suppression Squad! Damned dopers! ????

 

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by 2baht

[ChipButty]

20 minutes ago, Derek B said:

Whilst on the subject of public health issues any chance of ridding the country of dangerous dog breeds and clamping down on concealed handgun ownership.

I could think of lots they should clamp down on, not happening

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The new proposal would prohibit recreational use, dismiss the idea of allowing the cultivation of 15 cannabis plants per household, and reclassify the cannabis flowering parts with high THC content as narcotics.

Funny how the out-going health minister thought this was all for the benefit of the general public, or was he just trying to garner popularity?

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Gawd, it's always two steps forward, three steps back with these people.

Reversals of policy happen all over the world when a new government takes over. Often, that is why the new government is elected by the people, as they want a new direction. Not that that applies to Thailand of course, a country which has the government it is given and not the one people voted for.

[impulse]

It would be interesting to see an analysis of the aggregate problems of alcohol abuse plus weed abuse.

I'm sure more people are abusing weed now that it's widely available, but is that in addition to those who abused alcohol, or did weed displace some of the alcohol?

 

Are there more (DUI + weed) driving violations than before or fewer?  Is there more (alcohol + weed) fueled violence than before, or less.

 

I neither drink, nor do weed, so I don't have a dog in the fight.  But I've never seen a stoner attack someone on the street, while I've seen a lot of drunks do it.  Edit:  And I hate the idea of someone going to jail for lighting up a doob, while the guy next to him puking up his Mai Tai gets a free pass.

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by impulse

[AustinRacing]

Recreational use is illegal but it is perfectly legal to allow shops open up in recreational locations. Lawmakers here have little respect for people’s intelligence maybe because they’re not intelligent or don’t care. 

[nobodysfriend]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The new proposal would prohibit recreational use, dismiss the idea of allowing the cultivation of 15 cannabis plants per household, and reclassify the cannabis flowering parts with high THC content as narcotics.

Everything back to how it was before ... another Thai U-turn .

Sad to see , nothing changed , even the general election only resulted in the same old dinosaurs still sitting on their asses in still the same chairs as before ... no move foreward , only backwards ...

As Trump said  : "They stole the election " .That clearly is the case in Thailand as well .

They will destroy a lot of small businesses , leave more thai people deeply in dept as before , and do nothing good for the economy at all .

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The widespread use of marijuana however is not receiving the support it had hoped for from the recovering foreign tourism industry and is strongly opposed by the public.

... and is strongly opposed by the public ... = prove that !

[HappyExpat57]

Just now, AustinRacing said:

Recreational use is illegal but it is perfectly legal to allow shops open up in recreational locations. Lawmakers here have little respect for people’s intelligence maybe because they’re not intelligent or don’t care. 

Both can be true.

[NorthernRyland]

24 minutes ago, impulse said:

It would be interesting to see an analysis of the aggregate problems of alcohol abuse plus weed abuse.

 

People have been saying this for years but it's missing the point. The bottom line is the upper class and elites drink alcohol and they don't smoke weed. Generally the people who smoke are a different economic and social class entirely.

 

If the elites start smoking casually like they drink the laws will change. It's as simple as that.

[neeray]

Of course there would be "a surge in teen usage". Teen boys want to act like the big boys. Teen girls want to act like the big girls. Duh.

[nobodysfriend]

3 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Generally the people who smoke are a different economic and social class entirely.

Elon smokes ...

[impulse]

5 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

People have been saying this for years but it's missing the point. The bottom line is the upper class and elites drink alcohol and they don't smoke weed. Generally the people who smoke are a different economic and social class entirely.

 

If the elites start smoking casually like they drink the laws will change. It's as simple as that.

Ever see the interview with Joe Rogan and the most elite, richest guy in the world?  They needed a fan to keep the smoke away from the camera.

 

And Rogan's no cheap Charlie.  I think Rumble paid him $100 million...

 

Edited September 25, 2023 by impulse

[ChipButty]

6 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

People have been saying this for years but it's missing the point. The bottom line is the upper class and elites drink alcohol and they don't smoke weed. Generally the people who smoke are a different economic and social class entirely.

 

If the elites start smoking casually like they drink the laws will change. It's as simple as that.

They do Cocaine 

[jacko45k]

33 minutes ago, impulse said:

And I hate the idea of someone going to jail for lighting up a doob, while the guy next to him puking up his Mai Tai gets a free pass.

Be ethical and compare like for like..... why does one have to be puking at all?

Only one would be a scofflaw!

[Pesche]

A genuine example of incompetence!

QUESTION:

"How come the ya-bah-Pill price tumbled from 150 down to 20 Bt. after legalisation of Cannabis?! ????

 

This so called "Centre of Addiction Studies director" should maybe make an educational visit to Holland, Switzerland, Spain etc. where, after 30 years there has been a proven dramatic decrease in consumption of "hard drugs"?!

 

Again, like EVERYWHERE in this crazy world: An incompetent politician wannabe giving an unfounded PERSONAL OPINION!!

Edited September 25, 2023 by Pesche

[NorthernRyland]

5 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

Elon smokes ...

yeah but he's gone rogue and doesn't hold any power in government.

[thailand49]

Anutin,  another who has sold their own people down the <deleted>ty for their personal Enrichment. 

[paddypower]

After 28 years of ''you cant buy wine between 2.00 and 5.00 (incidentally, school hours) I don't care. Remember, this is a country where expats don't need a comedy tv channel. 9

[grego49]

At least they have a doctor as health minister,not like the clown they had before,,,,

[JayBird]

Thankfully there is no issue with addiction or teen use for alcohol and cigarettes, so it's perfectly fine to sell those for recreational use.