Anyone defaming deputy national police chief will be sued – lawyer
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800k Not In the Bank Method
which is exactly as it should be. -
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Report Thai Cannabis Industry Faces Chaos Amid Political Shifts
pro-cannabis activists who viewed liberalisation as a boost for Thailand's wellness and tourism sectors it still is, just follow the rules and you'll be fine. -
44
UK Britain is poised to lose a record 16,500 millionaires in 2025
No, stopped generating income. -
36
Crime Finnish Fugitive Wanted for Murder & Drug Trafficking Captured in Hua Hin
Word has it that they buzzed off his pathetic comb over and exposed his receding hairline. -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 27 June 2025
Thai Cannabis Industry Faces Chaos Amid Political Shifts FILE- A staff member prepares a flower bud of cannabis for a customer at a cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) Thailand's once-promising cannabis industry is in disarray following the government's abrupt announcement that prescriptions are now required to purchase cannabis. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364936-thai-cannabis-industry-faces-chaos-amid-political-shifts/ -
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Report Thai Cannabis Industry Faces Chaos Amid Political Shifts
FILE- A staff member prepares a flower bud of cannabis for a customer at a cannabis shop in Bangkok, Thailand, July 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) Thailand's once-promising cannabis industry is in disarray following the government's abrupt announcement that prescriptions are now required to purchase cannabis. Just three years after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalise cannabis, this reversal has sent shockwaves through the sector. Dispensaries, numbering between 10,000 and 18,000 since 2022, now face stringent regulations that limit them to selling only government-certified products and restrict sales to a 30-day supply per customer. This policy shift has sparked outrage among pro-cannabis advocates who championed the plant’s legalisation to bolster Thailand's wellness and tourism industries. Critics accuse the government of using the new regulations as political revenge following internal disputes within the ruling coalition. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party pushed for stricter drug policies shortly after the pro-cannabis Bhumjaithai Party exited the coalition over a cabinet seat disagreement. Business owners, like Rattapon Sanrak of Highland Cafe in the bustling Khaosan district, are grappling with compliance costs and fear a thriving black market for uncertified products. "These moves are political revenge, but it’s the public who’ll pay," Rattapon lamented, highlighting that many farms are not government-certified, leaving their products without legal outlets. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced plans to reclassify cannabis as an illegal narcotic once again. New rules will soon require dispensaries to employ on-site doctors as part of their licensing, further complicating the operational landscape. The suddenness of the rule change, published on a Wednesday night without a grace period, forced many businesses to shut their doors temporarily to rethink their strategies. Some entrepreneurs are considering a class-action lawsuit to challenge or at least delay these rapid changes. An advocacy group, Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future, is rallying public protest, arguing that these regulations will merely fuel underground sales and increase fake medical prescriptions. "A medical certificate can absolutely be bought," claimed Prasitchai Nunual, the group’s secretary-general, warning of potential corruption as so-called experts issue dubious permissions. Despite the turmoil, the economic significance of the cannabis industry cannot be understated. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce estimated its value at 28 billion baht (approximately US$865 million) in 2022, with potential growth to 43 billion baht by 2025. As the industry hangs in the balance, the unfolding situation will undoubtedly impact Thailand’s economy and influence its reputation as a wellness tourism hub. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-27
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