Thailand’s Cannabis Confusion Continues

[webfact]

 

In 2022, Thailand legalised cannabis, leading to widespread and often unregulated use of the drug. The legislation primarily intended to promote medical cannabis but also opened doors for various non-medical uses, sparking debates and causing dilemmas for the government and its citizens.

 

Internationally, countries distinguish cannabis use as either medical or recreational. In Thailand, the categories are medical, recreational, and an ambiguous "other" use.

 

"Other" might include making tea or cooking with the plant, actions that are neither clearly medical nor recreational. This ambiguity has led to misuse and misunderstandings.

 

Medical cannabis is still debated globally for its benefits and side effects. In Thailand, it is primarily used for patients resistant to standard treatments, like those with epilepsy or undergoing cancer therapy.

 

However, it remains unclear if the economic benefits originally touted have materialised. Lower grade cannabis floods the market, reducing prices and making it difficult for regulated businesses to compete.

 

Countries with similar liberal statutes, like Canada and the Netherlands, have implemented strict regulations, especially concerning underage use and controlling the number of cannabis-selling outlets. Thailand, however, still lacks a clear and robust policy, particularly on recreational use.

 

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's consideration to relist cannabis as an illicit drug has intensified debates. Critics argue that reversing the policy might be as problematic as its ambiguous implementation.

 

An increase in cannabis consumption, particularly among the youth and the proliferation of substandard cannabis products such as snacks and drinks, adds to the complexity of the situation.

 

To address these issues, the Thai government needs stronger law enforcement and clear regulations distinguishing medical from recreational use.

 

Reviewing the law's impact through neutral research bodies and continuously evaluating health, economic, and social factors would help in crafting a balanced approach, ensuring that the positives are maximised while minimising the harms associated with cannabis legalisation.

 

AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit

 

-- 2024-06-07

 

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[Pouatchee]

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

Lower grade cannabis floods the market, reducing prices and making it difficult for regulated businesses to compete.

 

not too long ago these 'businesses' were complaining that the werent making enough money. well, i guess soon they wont be making any money at all if taksin gets his way. oh, i forgot... 100k people signed a petition against the herb. i guess that even a dubious petition has more weight than thousands earning their wages with product. i think sreta, with all his new taxes, is actually pissed off cos he isnt taxing weed yet...

[chiman]

The government is looking at trying to collect more taxes?  Smile, the Gov takes over all the weed sales and taxes it like they tax wine and cars.. They won't be left trying to collect tax from westerners living here and push cart operators 

[hotchilli]

The fiasco continues.

[Ebumbu]

Recreation is necessary to recuperate from a stressful life. Stress is a factor in most diseases. Therefore, recreational use is medical use. This isn't an empty slogan. Anything that can help us relax without causing horrible side effects (like alcohol or cigarettes) contributes to health. 

 

Also, it's cannabis -- not dope, weed, or marijuana. If we want to resist prohibition, it helps not to use slur words intended to vilify this ancient medicinal herb. "Marijuana" was popularized by Harry Ansliger in 1930s in order to give cannabis racist connotations. He told the US Congress that "Marijuana" makes Blacks and Mexicans sex crazy. If he had used the word "hemp" or "cannabis," then US prohibition would never have passed in 1937. The original Constitution of the US was written on hemp. 

"In particular, he latched on to the story of a young man named Victor Licata, who had hacked his family to death with an ax, supposedly while high on cannabis. It was discovered many years later, however, that Licata had a history of mental illness in his family, and there was no proof he ever used the drug."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harry-anslinger-the-man-behind-the-marijuana-ban/

[off road pat]

1 hour ago, Ebumbu said:

Recreation is necessary to recuperate from a stressful life. Stress is a factor in most diseases. Therefore, recreational use is medical use. This isn't an empty slogan. Anything that can help us relax without causing horrible side effects (like alcohol or cigarettes) contributes to health. 

 

Also, it's cannabis -- not dope, weed, or marijuana. If we want to resist prohibition, it helps not to use slur words intended to vilify this ancient medicinal herb. "Marijuana" was popularized by Harry Ansliger in 1930s in order to give cannabis racist connotations. He told the US Congress that "Marijuana" makes Blacks and Mexicans sex crazy. If he had used the word "hemp" or "cannabis," then US prohibition would never have passed in 1937. The original Constitution of the US was written on hemp. 

"In particular, he latched on to the story of a young man named Victor Licata, who had hacked his family to death with an ax, supposedly while high on cannabis. It was discovered many years later, however, that Licata had a history of mental illness in his family, and there was no proof he ever used the drug."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harry-anslinger-the-man-behind-the-marijuana-ban/

Thank you for this useful information !

[JBChiangRai]

2 hours ago, Ebumbu said:

…Stress is a factor in most diseases. Therefore, recreational use is medical use.

 

So there is no such thing as recreational use.  Good to know. 

 

ROFLPMP

[AustinRacing]

Thailand was not mature and sophisticated enough to have it legalized. Just like numerous half-baked ideas they rush to implement which came back to bite them in the ass. 

[wombat]

The only confusion is happening by those that are confused.

[ChumpChange]

So what are all the recipients (of the one million free plants handed out by Anutin in 2002) supposed to do now?

Presumably, a lot of the people now have flourishing plants in their possession. If Anutin wasn't giving them out for recreational use, then what was it intended for? Medical use when none of these people receiving the plants were examined for medical conditions?
 

You give people free plants, tell them to grow them at home, and then accuse them of using it for recreational use? How does that work?

[Gilligan In Drag]

38 minutes ago, ChumpChange said:

So what are all the recipients (of the one million free plants handed out by Anutin in 2002) supposed to do now?

Presumably, a lot of the people now have flourishing plants in their possession. If Anutin wasn't giving them out for recreational use, then what was it intended for? Medical use when none of these people receiving the plants were examined for medical conditions?
 

You give people free plants, tell them to grow them at home, and then accuse them of using it for recreational use? How does that work?

Well those plants they gave away two years ago mostly would not be alive. But I think you are right and I had the same reaction once the re-illegalization uproar began, it almost seems like entrapment on a mass scale to give away plants and then turn around several months down the road and say, "Oh and by the way, if you use those plants for fun you'll go to prison!" and getting to people to register as well, not too far away from reporting yourself as a suspect. As Phuea Thai had nothing to do with any of it I don't think they can be trusted to take responsibility and if it suits them they'd do anything regardless of how it affects anyone.

[ChumpChange]

2 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Thailand was not mature and sophisticated enough to have it legalized. Just like numerous half-baked ideas they rush to implement which came back to bite them in the ass. 

Seems perfectly fine just the way it is. It got rid of much of the black market, prices came down a lot, created a very profitable industry, created a business opportunity for many young people, alcohol consumption is down, everyone is happy. I don't see any problem. Nothing needs to change. 

[ChumpChange]

4 minutes ago, Gilligan In Drag said:

Well those plants they gave away two years ago mostly would not be alive. But I think you are right and I had the same reaction once the re-illegalization uproar began, it almost seems like entrapment on a mass scale to give away plants and then turn around several months down the road and say, "Oh and by the way, if you use those plants for fun you'll go to prison!" and getting to people to register as well, not too far away from reporting yourself as a suspect. As Phuea Thai had nothing to do with any of it I don't think they can be trusted to take responsibility and if it suits them they'd do anything regardless of how it affects anyone.

Those 1 million plants from 2 years ago could now be 10 million or more plants from all the clippings and cuttings. Anyway, the point was Anutin was on cooking shows in flashy print cannabis shirts and at upcountry events showing locals how to cook with it too. It seemed like a surreal rodeo. 
 

Anyway, yes, the ones trying to dismantle it now are not the same ones who legalized it two years ago. That is a big part of the issue.
 

But still, even in the land of flip-flops and U-turns, this seems like something logistically impossible to reverse given how far it's blossomed into a large and sustainable industry. It will become both a judicial and law enforcement nightmare trying to turn the clock back. Everything will return to the black market. They really should be careful what they wish for.

[ChumpChange]

52 minutes ago, wombat said:

The only confusion is happening by those that are confused.

Nothing to be confused about. Re-criminalizing cannabis will increase the market price. This will benefit the methamphetamine and alcohol industries. Great for certain cartels. Bad and more danger for individual people living in civil society. 

[anthos]

https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-the-government-of-thailand-for-a-balanced-cannabis-policy

Let's sign the petition for a common sense approach!

[LukKrueng]

Nothing new in this article.

As for clear regulations what could be clearer than what we have now?

Not allowed for:

Anyone under 20

Pregnant and nursing women

Smoking in public

 

As for youth using it - they did when it wasn't legal and will continue to do so in the future

[Lancelot01]

4 hours ago, anthos said:

https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-the-government-of-thailand-for-a-balanced-cannabis-policy

Let's sign the petition for a common sense approach!

I presume it is necessary for all signatories to include their full name, address and contact details to validate their petitioning. 

Useful information to the immigration department and probably not so for overstayers etc.?

4 hours ago, anthos said:

https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-the-government-of-thailand-for-a-balanced-cannabis-policy

Let's sign the petition for a common sense approach!

 

[Luuk Chaai]

12 hours ago, off road pat said:

Thank you for this useful information !

all the locals I talk to refer to it as  Ganja ..     and they grow their own ..   

I still prefer the moniker..  Weed !  just "rolls"  off the tongue better

[grumpyoldman]

Has anyone used the "trying to put toothpaste back in the tube" cliche yet?

[Irish star]

On 6/7/2024 at 6:03 PM, ChumpChange said:

So what are all the recipients (of the one million free plants handed out by Anutin in 2002) supposed to do now?

Presumably, a lot of the people now have flourishing plants in their possession. If Anutin wasn't giving them out for recreational use, then what was it intended for? Medical use when none of these people receiving the plants were examined for medical conditions?
 

You give people free plants, tell them to grow them at home, and then accuse them of using it for recreational use? How does that work?

I know a lot of Cops in Isaan  that are Growing it and Kratom 

[bristolgeoff]

Silly move from the moment they started this.leave it legal drink causes more deaths  for sure.

[Mediappy]

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