Thailand's reversal on cannabis serves as a warning

[webfact]

 

Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has called for a dramatic shift in the country's cannabis policy, directing that the plant be classified once more as a narcotic, restricting its use to medical and health purposes.

 

This marks a turning point after just two years of legal cannabis, initially introduced by former premier Prayut Chan-Ocha to rejuvenate tourism, boost the medical marijuana industry, and support struggling farmers.

 

The decision, while not unexpected, highlights the complexities faced by Thailand in navigating its weed policy. Despite the plethora of cannabis dispensaries in Bangkok and the significant relaxation of previous strict drug laws, the reality hasn't matched expectations. It was a bold idea; however, the surge in cannabis use, particularly among the youth, combined with concerns over social harmony, has necessitated reconsideration.

 

The decriminalization had its merits, notably reducing the burden on Thai courts and prisons, currently overwhelmed with drug-related cases. However, the challenges of managing this newfound freedom have been considerable. Young people’s cannabis usage rates have soared, and reports of health issues related to consumption are on the rise.

 

Comparatively, while the West, including parts of the U.S., has generally seen a smoother transition to marijuana decriminalization, cultural and regional differences mean those models aren't easily replicated in Thailand.

 

The kingdom, more conservative in its social outlook and surrounded by neighbours with stringent anti-drug stances, finds itself in a unique and challenging position.

 

 

Additionally, Thailand's foray into legal cannabis spurred a rapid expansion of dispensaries and businesses, with nearly 8,000 outlets and numerous agro-firms emerging. The economic potential appeared vast, with forecasts predicting the industry could be worth $1.2 billion by 2025. However, regulatory gaps allowed foreign entities to flood the market, diluting benefits that were meant to support local communities and farmers.

 

Public health data since decriminalization show a sharp increase in usage across demographics. The governor’s plans to reclassify cannabis would bring strict penalties back into play, with possession potentially leading to significant fines and long jail sentences.

 

A carefully moderated middle-ground approach, focusing on medicinal use and proper regulation, may balance the urgent need to address health concerns while also preserving some economic benefits. Taxation of marijuana sales could provide government revenue, and enforcing stricter controls on the market could ensure local stakeholders reap the intended rewards.

 

Ultimately, Thailand’s cannabis journey underscores the broader implications and lessons of swift policy shifts in contentious areas. Thoughtful recalibration, rather than outright bans, may offer the most sustainable path forward as the country seeks to navigate its complex cannabis narrative.

 

TOP: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

 

-- 2024-05-18

 

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[dinsdale]

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

The decriminalization had its merits, notably reducing the burden on Thai courts and prisons, currently overwhelmed with drug-related cases. However, the challenges of managing this newfound freedom have been considerable. Young people’s cannabis usage rates have soared, and reports of health issues related to consumption are on the rise.

So courts and prisons will once again be burdened. 

Health issues are on the rise. What health issues and what's the number?

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

Comparatively, while the West, including parts of the U.S., has generally seen a smoother transition to marijuana decriminalization, cultural and regional differences mean those models aren't easily replicated in Thailand.

Rubbish. 

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

Additionally, Thailand's foray into legal cannabis spurred a rapid expansion of dispensaries and businesses, with nearly 8,000 outlets and numerous agro-firms emerging. The economic potential appeared vast, with forecasts predicting the industry could be worth $1.2 billion by 2025. However, regulatory gaps allowed foreign entities to flood the market, diluting benefits that were meant to support local communities and farmers.

Easy answer is to regulate. Does the government not have the brains to do this? Yeh! Silly question I know but a $1.2 billion dollar so around Bt45 billion baht will now be binned and black market money will go back to the criminals in the drug industry so the drug kingpins, generals, BIB, smugglers and dearlers. Yep! This seems like a rational thing to do.

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

A carefully moderated middle-ground approach, focusing on medicinal use and proper regulation, may balance the urgent need to address health concerns while also preserving some economic benefits. Taxation of marijuana sales could provide government revenue, and enforcing stricter controls on the market could ensure local stakeholders reap the intended rewards.

Agree except for the focus on medicinal use as this will be a very small % of sales in comparison to purchase for recreational use.

 

[bob smith]

trash article.

 

they always use protecting the youth as their modus operandi when it comes to drugs other than fags and booze.

 

nanny deep-state rears her ugly head once again..

 

bob

[Tropicalevo]

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Agree except for the focus on medicinal use as this will be a very small % of sales in comparison to purchase for recreational use.

And that is the problem.

It was never meant to be for recreational use.

From the lips of Anutin

"Thailand just decriminalized cannabis. But you still can’t smoke joints, minister says"

 

 

[dinsdale]

7 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

And that is the problem.

It was never meant to be for recreational use.

From the lips of Anutin

"Thailand just decriminalized cannabis. But you still can’t smoke joints, minister says"

 

 

Yep and we are were we are. The market toke took over. 0.2% and there's no way the market would be worth 10's of billions of baht.

[Emdog]

The warning is: Don't invest in Thailand. You can't depend on rule of law: they can change laws at the drop of a hat, irrespective of anyone's financial loss

[Bday Prang]

what a load of rubbish, do people actually get paid for producing trash like this?    Where does one apply for a job?

[John Drake]

Prayuth was better.

[dingdongrb]

"Comparatively, while the West, including parts of the U.S., has generally seen a smoother transition to marijuana decriminalization, cultural and regional differences mean those models aren't easily replicated in Thailand."

 

It's like saying Thailand drivers do not obey traffic regulations like those in the USA do. 

[Robert Paulson]

Interestingly, they weren’t concerned about harms to the youngsters during the covid lockdowns

[Robert Paulson]

2 hours ago, bob smith said:

trash article.

 

they always use protecting the youth as their modus operandi when it comes to drugs other than fags and booze.

 

nanny deep-state rears her ugly head once again..

 

bob

The bs meter goes to a full 10/10 reading when they start talking about saving the kids. We know they don’t care and have some other interest in mind. 

[Thingamabob]

Misleading headline. It's not yet a reversal. I note that the USA is today relaxing reguiatory control of cannabis use, bringing it into line with sevaral orher western countries. Sensible and civilised. Hopefully Thailand will take note.

3 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

talk about missing the bus , you are 2 years too late pal

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, has called for a dramatic shift in the country's cannabis policy, directing that the plant be classified once more as a narcotic, restricting its use to medical and health purposes.

That was it's intended purpose,

But the idea was hijacked by entrepreneurs taking advantage of no guidelines opening up shops selling it too anyone who came in, even having "smoking rooms' for personal use.

Anutin insisted on pushing it through before laws were made to regulate it, even  advocating every household cultivate the plant.

 

[ignore it]

Hmm.

 

If the puritans get there way and weed goes back to being a sin or crime, the weed shops all get closed and happiness returns, what about the weed I have now?

 

Will my weed be grandfathered?

 

Should I go and buy a lot of the exotics available now?

 

Asking for myself.

[richard_smith237]

14 minutes ago, ignore it said:

Hmm.

 

If the puritans get there way and weed goes back to being a sin or crime, the weed shops all get closed and happiness returns, what about the weed I have now?

 

Will my weed be grandfathered?

 

Should I go and buy a lot of the exotics available now?

 

Asking for myself.

 

 

I suspect there may be a bit of flip-flipping before then... or more realistically... 

 

Just like a lot of major announcements such as this... those in positions of decision making power make the announcement before realising what a cluster fluck they are creating... and that the shift is just not tenable... 

... so they end up keeping quiet... and then the panic settles into just the memory of an announcement while everyone carries on doing the same thing while remaining silent...  

 

A few shops will get raided, public photos etc.. and that will be it... 

 

Don't smoke openly in the street and I imagine you'll be fine.

 

Get yourself into trouble and have your apartment / house searched... and they'll make a song and dance about it...   'bad farang caught with....'

 

 

 

[mfd101]

Out here in the boondocks, the peasants grow their own, mix the leaves in their cooking for all the family. At least that's how it is in (some of) my family.

[dinsdale]

Sadly the anti-drug conservative zealots will have their way as they sit there drinking down their alcohol. Fair chance that the anti-drug posters on here are having a few drinks and few cigs as they type away saying what a demon drug dope is. Problems will increase not decrease with recrimanalistion. Prohibition doesn't work. Everyone knows this. Everyone knows that dope will still be available and everyone knows that the money made from black market sales with recriminalisation goes back to the criminals. Dope is one of the least harmful drugs. This is 100% Thaksin and Army and maybe someone else. 

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

. Fair chance that the anti-drug posters on here are having a few drinks and few cigs as they type away saying what a demon drug dope is.

 

   Nope, no one is doing that .

Could be paranoia  from smoking dope effecting you ?

[dinsdale]

16 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Nope, no one is doing that .

Could be paranoia  from smoking dope effecting you ?

Sure mate. I know and have known plenty of people who say dope's bad and they're full on drinkers and smokers. They'll argue that coffee isn't a drug. As for dope causing paranoia this is just another example of ignorance. Heavy users maybe but heavy users will get dope be it legal or illegal. 

[Nick Carter icp]

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Sure mate. I know and have known plenty of people who say dope's bad and they're full on drinkers and smokers. They'll argue that coffee isn't a drug. As for dope causing paranoia this is just another example of ignorance. Heavy users maybe but heavy users will get dope be it legal or illegal. 

 

   Marijuana does indeed have an effect on users mental health and it does cause paranoia , that is a fact and its not myself being ignorant 

[Hummin]

29 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Sadly the anti-drug conservative zealots will have their way as they sit there drinking down their alcohol. Fair chance that the anti-drug posters on here are having a few drinks and few cigs as they type away saying what a demon drug dope is. Problems will increase not decrease with recrimanalistion. Prohibition doesn't work. Everyone knows this. Everyone knows that dope will still be available and everyone knows that the money made from black market sales with recriminalisation goes back to the criminals. Dope is one of the least harmful drugs. This is 100% Thaksin and Army and maybe someone else. 

The older I get, the less I drink. I understand it is not good for me, and give me no advantages health vise or socially. 

 

Alchohol and other drugs, must be controlled, because to many people do not know their own best. Thats the truth, like it or not

[dinsdale]

There are many lists showing what drugs are the worst. I challenge anyone to post one that has dope above alcohol, nicotine, meth, coke, heroin, and fentanyl. 

22 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Marijuana does indeed have an effect on users mental health and it does cause paranoia , that is a fact and its not myself being ignorant 

As I said. This may [or may not be] the case for heavy users. Having the occasional joint do you think this is so or are you just regurgitating worst case scenarios used in arguments against the 'evil weed'. Reefer Madness is a classic example of propoganda demonising the herb.

[Hummin]

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

There are many lists showing what drugs are the worst. I challenge anyone to post one that has dope above alcohol, nicotine, meth, coke, heroin, and fentanyl. 

As I said. This may [or may not be] the case for heavy users. Having the occasional joint do you think this is so or are you just regurgitating worst case scenarios used in arguments against the 'evil weed'. Reefer Madness is a classic example of propoganda demonising the herb.

Religion, social media, make your pick! We are bored to death, so we are easy targets for stimulants whatever it is. 

 

I got rid of social media, just AN left now. 

[spidermike007]

This is a betrayal of staggering proportions to the citizens of Thailand, many of whom have invested their life savings in the industry and indispensaries, assuming that they could count on the good faith of the government. It is very obvious that there is no good faith on the part of this administration, and potential future administrations, and that people cannot count on continued support from these toxic, heinous, corrupt individuals that completely lack any sense of vision and are desperately trying to move the nation backwards, and are rejecting progress at every step. 

 

We are also moving back to a time of fake puritanism, the public should be allowed to engage in recreational use of ganja, it's not harming anyone, and it's infinitely less toxic than either alcohol or tobacco. 

[Guderian]

I hope all the Thaksin fans are happy now...

 

[JensenZ]

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Easy answer is to regulate. Does the government not have the brains to do this? Yeh! Silly question I know but a $1.2 billion dollar so around Bt45 billion baht will now be binned and black market money will go back to the criminals in the drug industry so the drug kingpins, generals, BIB, smugglers and dearlers. Yep! This seems like a rational thing to do.

Consider also that the black market will be more extensive and lucrative than ever before as more people have become recreational users during the 2-year free-for-all. Users will forgo healthy eating to save money for weed, which will be much more expensive on the black market.

[Mr Meeseeks]

8 hours ago, Emdog said:

The warning is: Don't invest in Thailand. You can't depend on rule of law: they can change laws at the drop of a hat, irrespective of anyone's financial loss

 

Correct. 

 

You cannot trust anything in this country when it comes to business and money. I include other farangs in that as well.

 

I have been extremely lucky, and it is possible to do well with hard work, but that is only if you go in with the above rule in your head at all times.

[Mr Meeseeks]

Also, expect a lot more of this divisive nonsense now that Thaksin is back running things.

[herfiehandbag]

9 hours ago, John Drake said:

Prayuth was better.

Really? You really think so?

 

On this one issue or across the board?

 

Missing the "smack of firm government" are we?

 

Or is cheap and easy access to wacky baccy the beginning and end of life?

 

In my opinion, whilst there is plenty to criticise about this government ( including the chaotic way they are approaching this matter) they are incomparably better, and the people are happier with them, than with what went before!

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, Guderian said:

I hope all the Thaksin fans are happy now...

 

I have just shown this picture to my four dogs. They are on a high following a noisy but ultimately effective hunt for "the enemy", a 9" gecko which has been roaming the kitchen for the last week or so. They are ready to go, where do we start?