Thailand moves to ban recreational cannabis use, 18 months after historic decriminalization

[stoner]

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

How so? I have not yet seen all these wonderful benefits after 18 months. It has no impact on tourism, and most of the  weed shops I see are empty and dying on their feet. Surely the growers are not doing well with so limited a market... so much so that they resort to smuggling to other countries. If the best argument you have is to simply insult those who oppose, you must have a limited platform. 

 

most of what you have posted here is simply ill informed. 

 

can you post a link to show that in 18 months there has been no benefit or impact on tourism. just yesterday BP reported that about 20 to 30mb monthly is generated on khao san road alone  from cannabis. multiply that all over thailand and you have quite a lot of money. i don't want to go into the details of how the market is so much more than just people selling flower and others getting high. i am sure you can figure that out.

 

big nothing burger there right ? 

 

empty stores i do somewhat agree with you. many people without any knowledge of the cannabis business rushed to open a store so they could possibly score a windfall in sales. as is with any other poorly thought out business plan they were destined to fail. 

 

besides that the vast majority of ALL stores in thailand carry garbage product. so that helps quite a bit as well. bad product and no one wants to come to your store. 

 

would you care to comment on the stores that are doing upwards of 30 to 50k a day in sales ? there are stores in thailand packed with customers every day. i know of a few that do upwards of 70 to 100k a day in sales. 

 

as for growers. again totally ill informed. the price for flower is steadily rising again. many growers have already failed (again that mad rush to start a grow and make millions was not well thought out). i have visited dozens and dozens of grows all over thailand and can really say that only a couple were producing quality.

 

people exporting without necessary paperwork are a matter for law enforcement and customs officials. those are criminals and have nothing to do with the legal cannabis market locally. 

[retarius]

Gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. One year prison for smoking weed. What fools are the leaders ion Thailand. 

[flyingtlger]

The cats out of bag....no way they'll catch it!

 

 

[stoner]

16 minutes ago, LS24 said:

A large figure indeed. Now that needs to be offset by the loss of families and others opposed to all tourist locations inundated with neon and LED storefronts advertising weed

 

what loss have other families endured from someone opening a business in a tourist spot known for less than desirable behavior ?

 

will you also take this stance in regards to the losses people endure when a bar or night club is opened up close to them ? 

 

neon store fronts hahahah ya like that is anything new in thailand. good try though. 

Edited January 11 by stoner

[stoner]

12 minutes ago, LS24 said:

Why do you choose a stinky weed shop in such a place? There is a multitude of choices for stinky weed far away from the cum stained areas.

 

i thought me saying it was a hypothetical scenario cleared that up. i don't even live in pattaya so theres that. 

[bamnutsak]

I think this is the draft version of the Cannabis Control Act...

 

 

https://www.dtam.moph.go.th/images/document/law/Hearing_Draft_Law/law0039-09012567.pdf

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

CNN — Thailand’s new government is moving ahead to pass new legisalation banning cannabis for recreational use in a major reversal 18 months after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalize the plant.

 

The relaxed laws saw a lucrative cannabis industry catering to locals and foreigners alike boom across the Southeast Asian nation, but a new conservative coalition government came to power late last year vowing to tighten the rules and only allow medical use.

 

A draft bill was released on Tuesday by Thailand’s health ministry outlining hefty fines or prison sentences of up to one year for offenders – or both.

 

Cannabis and cannabis-related products will be limited to medical and health purposes only, the bill states, echoing Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s pledge in September that his new government will “rectify” laws on cannabis within the next six months.

 

Smoking marijuana in public remained illegal even under the relaxed laws, but the proposed new laws will ban advertising and marketing campaigns for cannabis buds and extracts, and other cannabis products.

 

By Heather Chen and Kocha Olarn, CNN

Top picture: File photo for reference only

 

Full story: CNN 2024-01-11

 

- 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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Mind you, prostitution is illegal too!

 

They might as well leave it ( the cannabis business ) alone. Two out of the three shops/kiosks which I  noticed had opened in the " nightlife" area of Chiang Rai have closed down. The farang enthusiasts will no doubt continue to get it from their previous suppliers, and the local potheads will continue to pop up to the mountain villages to get their supplies.

 

 

Edited January 11 by herfiehandbag

[LS24]

6 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

what loss have other families endured from someone opening a business in a tourist spot known for less than desirable behavior ?

 

will you also take this stance in regards to the losses people endure when a bar or night club is opened up close to them ? 

 

neon store fronts hahahah ya like that is anything new in thailand. good try though. 

We, no. You have twice now quoted increase in turnover based on KSR. Yet you have not taken into account people who have chosen to not visit areas due to the free availability of weed. You have demonstrated confirmation bias. I am simply asking you to consider both the positive and negative effects to draw a more unbiased conclusion. That is just basis economics.

 

Are you after an unbiased discussion or a biased one?

[robblok]

Too bad havent slept so good since smoking cannabis. Improved my sleep a lot. Its stupid they ban this. Dinosaurs. 

 

Nothing wrong with cannabis just apply the same rules as alcohol and dont sell it to minors and near schools.

 

But too bad its done can't stop it. I hope i can still get a supply as i dont go out much i would risk it. Or try to get a medical card or something. Wonder what compromises will be made.

[stoner]

it should also be noted that the vast majority of all cannabis stores in thailand are concentrated in the high traffic tourist areas. once you venture away the frequency of stores drops off dramatically. i notice no one wants to address that.

 

i can't go to my restaurant now because of the stink. said people who live in tourist areas. anyone in nakhorn nowhere want to chime in about how their local restaurant.... cant go now due to stanky cannabis. 

 

 

so with that known most thai are not exposed to all this fear and blabber nonsense spouted on here regarding cannabis. 

 

 

[LS24]

8 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

i thought me saying it was a hypothetical scenario cleared that up. i don't even live in pattaya so theres that. 

As was mine. The point stands. Why would someone offended by lady bars and all that goes with it choose to go to that specific area of a town when there are multiple other places in town that offer exactly what the people wants?

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

1 minute ago, stoner said:

it should also be noted that the vast majority of all cannabis stores in thailand are concentrated in the high traffic tourist areas. once you venture away the frequency of stores drops off dramatically. i notice no one wants to address that.

 

i can't go to my restaurant now because of the stink. said people who live in tourist areas. anyone in nakhorn nowhere want to chime in about how their local restaurant.... cant go now due to stanky cannabis. 

 

 

so with that known most thai are not exposed to all this fear and blabber nonsense spouted on here regarding cannabis. 

 

 

 

No weed stores in Chanthaburi. Legal, not legal - no one here cares.

[sammieuk1]

1 hour ago, 2baht said:

Total numpties!..........Why don't you go buy a submarine!!! 

A u-boats on the cards it turns corners very fast 🤔

[stoner]

2 minutes ago, LS24 said:

We, no. You have twice now quoted increase in turnover based on KSR. Yet you have not taken into account people who have chosen to not visit areas due to the free availability of weed. You have demonstrated confirmation bias. I am simply asking you to consider both the positive and negative effects to draw a more unbiased conclusion. That is just basis economics.

 

Are you after an unbiased discussion or a biased one?

 

the positive far outweighs the negative. someone who didn't want to go to KSR because of weed went to another spot in thailand and spent their money. win win. 

 

yes i am aware that some people will chose to stay away from thailand because of the cannabis. i also believe that (without proof just anecdotal evidence) that far more people are accepting of it and do want to come here for the experience. 

 

the world is shifting quickly in its attitude towards cannabis as shown by the number of countries moving forward with new policies. 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, stoner said:

a khao san road business rep went on to say that it possibly generates 20 to 30 mb alone for khao san road per month. multiply that throughout the countries tourist areas and you have a large sum of money.

 

VERY large. 

 

But a poster on this very forum (not this thread) claimed that he used to spend thousands and thousands of baht a month on booze and now he only spends 500 baht a month on weed.  So, not only is that a net negative, it's also not going to the powerful interest.

 

Follow the money...

 

[stoner]

4 minutes ago, LS24 said:

As was mine. The point stands. Why would someone offended by lady bars and all that goes with it choose to go to that specific area of a town when there are multiple other places in town that offer exactly what the people wants?

 

 

 

maybe that's where the stores who have the good weed are open ? 

[LS24]

1 minute ago, stoner said:

it should also be noted that the vast majority of all cannabis stores in thailand are concentrated in the high traffic tourist areas. once you venture away the frequency of stores drops off dramatically. i notice no one wants to address that.

 

I live in Non and would struggle to see a farang each day. Plenty of weeks shops near me. I also mentioned one in a previous post in this thread regarding the weedshop, cafe and bar.

Now you agree that most of the weed shops are in tourist areas. great. So do you agree or disagree that some tourists would be turned off by the blatant advertisement of weed? Now you may mention lady bars, yes. But tourists have been aware of this for years and still come with families. Will those same families still come when weed is so readily visible and accessible.

if you are going to continue to ignore the pertinent points and counter them logically, you don't need to reply. of course you can, but you don't need to.

[2baht]

1 minute ago, sammieuk1 said:

A u-boats on the cards it turns corners very fast 🤔

They'd also take some F35 Raptors if anyone was stupid enough to sell it to them!

[stoner]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

Follow the money...

 

a certain group who control a large part of entertainment down on suk also control the cannabis shops. 

[stoner]

5 minutes ago, LS24 said:

I live in Non and would struggle to see a farang each day. Plenty of weeks shops near me. I also mentioned one in a previous post in this thread regarding the weedshop, cafe and bar.

Now you agree that most of the weed shops are in tourist areas. great. So do you agree or disagree that some tourists would be turned off by the blatant advertisement of weed? Now you may mention lady bars, yes. But tourists have been aware of this for years and still come with families. Will those same families still come when weed is so readily visible and accessible.

if you are going to continue to ignore the pertinent points and counter them logically, you don't need to reply. of course you can, but you don't need to.

 

i already answered yes. but i would also say that the number who decide not to come are fewer than those who do want to come (tourist numbers reported for this past year seem to indicate people are coming) as you point out tourists still come even though the sex trade is right there for little jimmy to see. i am sure that was always the case right ? or did it take time to evolve into that ? same will happen with cannabis. the beginning of new things will always come with hiccups and issues. my home canada has not fallen into shambles because of cannabis. 

 

as i said the world view is changing quickly on cannabis. not my viewpoint just reality. 

Edited January 11 by stoner

[impulse]

2 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

a certain group who control a large part of entertainment down on suk also control the cannabis shops. 

 

It would be interesting to see their books, and whether their booze sales and profits suffered more (or less) than their weed sales grew.

[LS24]

8 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

the positive far outweighs the negative. someone who didn't want to go to KSR because of weed went to another spot in thailand and spent their money. win win. 

 

But would that other spot be a high tourist spot like KSR? If so, there would be weed shops there, too. And they may stay this trip or choose to move on to Cambodia or Vietnam instead. So how are you so sure they will stay. How are you sure they will be a repeat holiday maker in future.

Again, you are using confirmation bias and unfounded assumptions and Bangkok Post translated stories. And it is not helping your argument at all.

Edited January 11 by LS24
added

[Celsius]

12 minutes ago, robblok said:

Too bad havent slept so good since smoking cannabis. Improved my sleep a lot. Its stupid they ban this. Dinosaurs. 

 

Why do you need to smoke it?

 

 

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

9 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

 

No weed stores in Chanthaburi. Legal, not legal - no one here cares.

 

7 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

yes i am aware that some people will chose to stay away from thailand because of the cannabis. i also believe that (without proof just anecdotal evidence) that far more people are accepting of it and do want to come here for the experience. 

 

the world is shifting quickly in its attitude towards cannabis as shown by the number of countries moving forward with new policies. 

 

Absolutely, outside of a few enthusiasts no one cares.

 

4 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

a certain group who control a large part of entertainment down on suk also control the cannabis shops. 

 

So nothing will actually happen then.

 

Perhaps some sort of zoning scheme to increase revenue?

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Celsius said:

 

Why do you need to smoke it?

 

 

 

 

I vape it (healthier) it helps me sleep. 

[herfiehandbag]

2 minutes ago, Celsius said:

 

Why do you need to smoke it?

 

 

 

 

One could of course ask why does he need to sleep?

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, herfiehandbag said:

One could of course ask why does he need to sleep?

I am concerned he will set the bed on fire.

[stoner]

5 minutes ago, LS24 said:

But would that other spot be a high tourist spot like KSR? If so, there would be weed shops there, too. And they may stay this trip or choose to move on to Cambodia or Vietnam instead. So how are you so sure they will stay. How are you sure they will be a repeat holiday maker in future.

Again, you are using confirmation bias and unfounded assumptions and Bangkok Post translated stories. And it is not helping your argument at all.

 

the number of people you are talking about that won't come to thailand because of cannabis vs the overall tourism effect is laughable. 

 

ya lots of families who wanted to come to thailand for tourism go to cambodia instead. not helping my argument indeed

[HappyExpat57]

12 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

But a poster on this very forum (not this thread) claimed that he used to spend thousands and thousands of baht a month on booze and now he only spends 500 baht a month on weed.  So, not only is that a net negative, it's also not going to the powerful interest.

 

Follow the money...

 

 

... Followed the money - he makes up for it by buying a boatload of pizzas.

[bamnutsak]

30 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

I think this is the draft version of the Cannabis Control Act...

 

 

https://www.dtam.moph.go.th/images/document/law/Hearing_Draft_Law/law0039-09012567.pdf

 

 

 

Preamble, Google Translate - I scanned the entire document, it's long on the Cannabis and Hemp Committee, and punishments. Very short on implementation. I assume the committee will oversee implementation details.

 

Record the principles and reasons Assemble the draft Cannabis and Hemp Act B.E. .... __________________ Principle: There should be a law on cannabis and hemp. The reason is that cannabis and hemp are plants that are not designated as narcotic drugs according to the Code. drug laws People may be able to widely possess, consume, and use marijuana and hemp, which will have an impact on public health. as well as the economy and society of the country However, marijuana and hemp are plants that It is useful in medicine and health, which has economic value. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish control measures. Supervise and supervise the importation of marijuana and Hemp should be used in an appropriate way, as well as promoting the development of marijuana and hemp to maximize the economic benefits of the country, including establishing a committee system as a mechanism for driving before regulating and promoting the use of marijuana and hemp Therefore it is necessary to enact this act
This Act has certain provisions regarding the restriction of rights and freedoms of individuals, which Section 26, together with Section 28, Section 33, Section 34, Section 37, Section 38 and Section 40 of the Constitution. of the Kingdom of Thailand Provided that this can be done by virtue of the provisions of the law. The reason and necessity for limiting the rights and freedoms of persons under this Act is to determine measures to control, supervise, and supervise the cultivation, production, import, export, sale, or advertising of marijuana, hemp, or extracts, as well as to protect them. Protect public health from the consumption of cannabis, hemp, or extracts. The enactment of this Act is consistent with the conditions provided in Section 26 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand.
 

 

Edited January 11 by bamnutsak