Anutin Joins PM in Pot Stand, Urges Arrests of Foreigners

[webfact]

Anutin Joins PM in Pot Stand, Urges Arrests of Foreigners

 

 

In a bold move, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul orders the arrest of foreigners operating cannabis outlets illegally in Thailand. The widely criticised decision follows a government-led initiative to upscale the regulation of recreational marijuana trading in the country. 

 

The Minister's proclamation comes in the wake of an edict from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, the controversial call to reclassify cannabis as a banned narcotic. This impending shift could lead to the closure of nearly 8,000 marijuana retail outlets. While Mr Anutin openly supports the introduction of legislation to regulate the industry, his admonition towards foreign nationals involved in illegal cannabis sale has stirred quite a buzz.

 

"It's a tricky situation. We've got a burgeoning cannabis industry on one hand and the potential collateral damage of this ban on the other," shared Moira McKenzie, a long-time expat running an art café in Chiang Mai. 

 

A wave of unrest swept the nation following the Prime Minister's Wednesday pronouncement. Many see cannabis as a cornerstone of a progressive, modern Thailand. More so, it has imbued a profound change in Thailand’s conservative culture. The country made history in Asia by legalising medicinal marijuana usage back in 2018, and in 2020, the growth, trade and possession of limited quantities were decriminalised. 

 

Mr Anutin himself, in his prior role as Minister of Public Health, played a crucial part in these reforms. Nonetheless, embracing a diplomatic outlook, he stated, "As I am no longer the Minister of Public Health, it behoves me to allow the incumbent to make this decision. But we must offer concise information on why cannabis has more benefits than harm”.

 

This sentiment is highly indicative of the complex state of affairs cannabis regulation has created within Thai politics. 

Anutins' stance on limiting ownership to Thai nationals only has been clear for some time, aiming to safeguard local traditional practitioners and keep the benefits within national borders. He stood firm on this, calling for a systemic sweep and arrest of international operatives.

 

While medical bodies have warned about the adverse effects of recreational cannabis use, pro-cannabis lobbyists have hit back. In particular, the Cannabis Future Network is threatening protests and legal action against the government's perceived efforts to establish a cannabis monopoly. They are demanding scientific proof of cannabis causing harm to mental health. 

 

Growing public dissatisfaction and the legalisation advocates' outcry against the government might fuel a significant shift in Thailand's political alliance, ultimately shaping the country's stance on cannabis. 

 

Anutin Charnvirakul. Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

-- 2024-05-11

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[mr_lob]

Any old excuse for this dinosaur to have a pop at the dirty farangs...

[daveAustin]

Ever the xenophobe! Was just praising him on another thread in standing up for weed, but he’s capitulated with this knob of a pm and can’t help himself but attack foreigners. Anyone should be arrested for operating an illegal weed shop, shouldn’t they?

I hope the government gets of serious reprisals for dialling it back and screwing with people’s lives. 

Edited May 10 by daveAustin

[harleyclarkey]

Ata boy ..... go get them filthy nasty foreigners.

You know, those  foreigners that keep Thailand afloat. And of course make enough money for those elite who collect fancy watches 

[HappyExpat57]

Honestly, are there  really  any farangs operating weed shops, or is this just another weak attempt at staying in the headlines?

[Iron Tongue]

So weed-free tourists will have to go back to pounding beers all day at the beach before hitting the bars after sundown.

What could go wrong?

[cookie1974]

Damn those foreigners stealing cannabis money that rightly belongs to wealthy upper class politicians how dare they,seriously did they not expect the criminal fraternity to enter the frey when weed shops have opened all over the place to make a quick buck on its sale??

[JayClay]

Step 1 - Arrest a few foreigners, call it a crackdown, and get some big media attention.

 

Step 2 - Announce an investigation into the results of the crackdown showing that everything is now fine and there is no illegal cannabis in Thailand now.

 

Step 3 - Announce that, as the foreign threat has been subdued, there's now no reason to alter the existing bill.

[pomchop]

Idea:  Lets start out by arresting mr red bull for killing a cop hyped on coke and speeding and then hiding in plain site for a decade or so...and lets also arrest all of the high placed enablers who have participated in protecting the uber wealthy from justice...

 

Once that is done then maybe go arrest a few pot dealers.

[DjSilver]

First off, I don't like these racist Thais. However, the only ones who will lose on this new cannabis law are Thais who own the cannabis stores. And this is something I support 🤣

[JayClay]

10 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Honestly, are there  really  any farangs operating weed shops, or is this just another weak attempt at staying in the headlines?

 

There's no mention of farangs in the artical as far as I scanned it.

 

I'd imagine the foreigners that are being identified are from neighbouring countries with large weed production networks.

 

(edit... Highlighted the difference in two words which some members are apparently having difficulty differentiating even when pointed out to them)

Edited May 10 by JayClay

[neeray]

We shouldn't really knock Anutin's decisions. He can't control which way the wind is blowing.

[Thingamabob]

Much more to come on this. The fact remains, cannabis is far less harmful than cigarettes, alcohol and crystal meth, and has beneficial medical use.

[Dioj]

Makes unquestionable perfect sense. Operating TOTALLY ILLEGAL AND UNLICENSED cannabis shops is an occupation fully reserved for locals only. 

[Dioj]

And soon to be added to the list of occupations reserved for locals only. So, if your a foreigner wanting to operate a legal weed shop in the future, your work permit will need to state that your occupation is "agricultural science consultant". 

[JimboB4]

🤣🤣 Another total BULL <deleted> article no Anutin didn’t join the PM, he only said foreigners operating illegal cannabis businesses should be arrested and that was it. He’s still on the Narcotics Control Board which ultimately has the decision making authority and once again the PM really has no say in the matter. That doesn’t change no matter how you word the article TVF or how much you wish it would change. Cannabis will be here forever regardless of how many more bull sh!t articles you write as you have been doing for several years since they first started legalizing it in 2018 or 19, and started allowing everyone to grow it. Even if the NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD did decide to close shops it still would not go away since people have been allowed to grow it for several years now. And bottom line no shops will not close this is all hype based on something that the PM said that he “wants to do” but has no authority to actually do it on his own. And now you are taking Anutin’s words way out of context and it’s obvious. That’s why I rarely ever bother to read your articles anymore too much disinformation on this sight. Just translate the news article and use legitimate news sources. This isn’t news it’s propaganda. 

[JimboB4]

Anutin “But we must offer concise information on why cannabis has more benefits than harm”. stop taking things out of context he only said foreigners operating illegal shops should be arrested. You really think it’s going anywhere with all the money in it? There would be a coup before shops would close. 

[JimboB4]

“Thai nationals only has been clear for some time, aiming to safeguard local traditional practitioners and keep the benefits within national borders. He stood firm on this, calling for a systemic sweep and arrest of international operatives.” right so in other words keeping it legal but  in country only. 

Edited May 10 by JimboB4

[Dioj]

Thus, operating shops selling weed for recreational use can only be owned, operated, and profited by locals moving forward is the real underlying message here. Fine, if that's the real agenda then stop pretending that wide spread use of cannabis in Thailand is harming society, is damaging public image, is a health and safety risk, blah, blah, blah. If it is all just bluster to simply squeeze foreigners out of a hugely lucrative US$1 billion business that they want the locals to dominate then they should stop all the buffoonerous flip-flopping about the cannabis laws and stop pretending it's all about cannabis being a health and safety risk to local society.
 

Also, nothing new in Thailand. So all the foreign run cannabis businesses will now have to bring locals into their businesses to insure the locals are getting a larger piece of the pie. This is actually something that has been done for years. Bring in foreign knowledge and experience to start with in order to develop an industry new to Thailand and once the locals have gleaned all the skills needed to do it themselves then they no longer feel they need to exploit the foreigners now involved who taught them the new techniques and methods to grow a new industry that they had no knowledge of before. 
 

Also, Srettha, and the rest of the PT goons, are probably only acting as if they want to make it an illegal narcotic again because they are pandering to their base of anti-cannabis supporters. At the end of the day they know the cannabis genie is not going back in bottle, but, when the laws aren't changed later, then they can at least say that they attempted to live up to their campaign promises, but they were blocked by other uncooperative parties in the coalition. It's always about the blame game and not about having any morals or values, doing things they claim are in the best interest of civil society, or even doing or achieving anything that they originally promised. It's always only about individual personal interests of "public servants" and political arse covering. 

[JimboB4]

Bottom line no Anutin didn’t join the PM against cannabis another highly misleading article. 

[kwilco]

there are foreigners working illegally in all sorts of businesses, largely because either they are paying back handers or immigration police are just too relaxed and allow these places to continue.

[ftpjtm]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Anutin said, "As I am no longer the Minister of Public Health, it behoves me to allow the incumbent to make this decision. But we must offer concise information on why cannabis has more benefits than harm”

 

Seems that severe farang paranoia is one negative side effect of cannabis. 

[Tailwagsdog]

40 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Much more to come on this. The fact remains, cannabis is far less harmful than cigarettes, alcohol and crystal meth, and has beneficial medical use.

Yes Jamaica is a shining example

[Colabamumbai]

Send him to Canada. 

[Jingthing]

54 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Honestly, are there  really  any farangs operating weed shops, or is this just another weak attempt at staying in the headlines?

Yes there are.

[Kim Jones]

Arrest all those dam farangs. Everyone knows that Thais don't smoke weed 

[Lucky Bones]

Anooti, desperate to be in Thaksin's pay packet.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In a bold move, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul orders the arrest of foreigners operating cannabis outlets illegally in Thailand.

It's disgusting how this imbecile always singles out foreigners.

[CDG931]

I think they have the priorities wrong.

But generally speaking, on the topic of xenophobia, a minority of foreigners behave in a disrespectful manner. When you read the news, it seems this happens more and more. I am not a fan of Anutin but I understand that the government has a tough attitude.
 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

While Mr Anutin openly supports the introduction of legislation to regulate the industry

Something he omitted to doing when he legalised it.