4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

attracting absolute dross around the world for the 'green' - the worst set of visitors any country can hope to attract.

I beg to differ the worst "visitors" any country are without those following the "religion of peace" who have no intention of ever leaving or indeed assimilating into a non muslim society.

On 1/15/2026 at 1:22 PM, Emdog said:

Will they reimburse the millions that have been spent on investments in shops, farms, accessories, transport, etc etc

Those parties are sending the message that the government lacks any rational decision making capability, in this case oblivious to the bankrupting of unknown numbers due to this 180 degree turn

I would never invest in Thailand... to risky, gov too blind

They can ask for a refund from the filthy rich acting PM who was the Health Minister responsible for ramrodding this ill-advised legalisation through in the first place.

There's a reason he has fought tooth and nail to keep this revenue stream open in some way or another. Anyone wondering why?

Funnily enough, when you smoke marijuana, it also affects your "rational decision making capability."

On 1/15/2026 at 3:15 PM, dinsdale said:

Dope's been available here for decades upon decades and still will be. Difference now is it will be back to the old days of criminality and corruption. BTW it's available online and this I'd expect will explode as has online vapes since the vape crackdown. As I said and have said before regulation not ciminalisation is the rational way to go.

What do you mean the "old days of criminality and corruption"? Has it ever stopped?

I totally agree that regulation is required but that only works in a country where the rules and restrictions of legal regulation are adhered to and the associated laws are enforced and punishments served.

Meanwhile, here in Thailand...

On 1/16/2026 at 7:38 AM, Pumpuynarak said:

It will just be ignored, thank god. I might even pop along and get a medical certificate cos i certainly ain't going to stop consuming, its my life............

Ignore at your peril. Once illegal cops can shake down anyone, any time and test you as well. If on long stay that's in jeopardy...being arrested.

But smoking weed as a grown ass adult so worth it

On 1/15/2026 at 3:49 PM, dinsdale said:

Alas it was inconsiderate and idiotic "visitors" to the country that has assisted in bringing about the backflip. Considerate and discreet this backflip might not have happened. One should, however, keep in mind that there's a high probability of an agenda of monopolisation in play here.

I seriously doubt the handful of people complaining about the handful of idiots smoking in the wrong places had any serious influence on this "backflip" you speak of.

The acting PM is desperate to cling onto the scraps of the dreams of monopolisation that he's been left with. He thought he had all the dogs on the same leash. He didn't.

I recall reading how around 6 months after the legalisation of home-grown marijuana, the market was briefly flooded with cheap, high-quality California prime. I wonder who was looking the other way while those sea containers were emptied? Certainly wasn't anyone at the then Health Ministry.

13 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

What do you mean the "old days of criminality and corruption"? Has it ever stopped?

I'm talking about the days where cheap not very good brick dope was coming across the border mainly from Myanmar. This obviously involved high level corruption. One could also get busted for having weed which meant being shaken down by the BIB.

Thailand is a mess,they say vaping is illegal but happens in public and Marijuana is now for medicinal purposes and we know it's available. Next week who knows, no wonder no one wants to invest in a crazy mixed up country.

On 1/16/2026 at 8:12 AM, Stocky said:

You need to look for a new bar

Yes, there are places other than the Bodega bar on the corner of 13/2 and Second. That must rate as God's waiting room, no?

20 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

They invested in a business that was operating against the legislation.... cannabis was decriminalised for medicinal purposes only....overuse has certainly clouded many users minds, who believe it was legal for non medical use...fools

For gods sake change the record, you have become a laughing stock

The overall majority of businesses were not and are still not operating "Against the legislation" at all, a small minority that may not have complied fully, in one way or another, have been "visited" by the authorities and either brought into line or decided to close of their own accord , I have not heard of any who have been "shut down" forcibly , have you ?

This is why some seek to change the current legislation, and explains why there have been few if any business owners fined or sent to prison for contravening the existing legislation

Stop wittering on about "medical use only" and " but but but Anutin said " it was not just decriminalised (whatever that is supposed to mean) it was legalised , and still is perfectly legal and available for those over 21 who are not pregnant or lactating.

Was the ban on under 21's and pregnant women indulging intended for the ears of the "qualified doctors" who you think should be dispensing cannabis? That would clearly be ridiculous as doctors prescribe all sorts of drugs,to all sorts of people, without such government interference, Thankfully they rely solely on medical facts and guidance

I'll try Putting it simply for you , The lack of police enforcement for non existent rules is all the proof that you need

Anyway go get yourself a beer and chill out,... Oh hang on a minute its only 10am so that would be illegal. even for over 21's who are not pregnant, but when the time comes , if you are thinking of having two or more, just make sure you buy them at about the same time you buy the first one and definitely before you have drunk any of it , One would not want to break the law by purchasing alcohol when intoxicated would one

On 1/16/2026 at 9:33 AM, Xonax said:

I predict that it's going to be fairly easy (but costly) to get a prescription from on-site doctors in the surviving cannabis shops.

Maybe twice the cost of a "medical certificate" for a driving license?

On 1/16/2026 at 8:46 AM, The Old Bull said:

I think there are more important places the BIB could be spending their money than chasing old stoners.

The BIB are not chasing old stoners as yet ,

6 minutes ago, OldmanJ said:

Thailand is a mess,they say vaping is illegal but happens in public and Marijuana is now for medicinal purposes and we know it's available. Next week who knows, no wonder no one wants to invest in a crazy mixed up country.

Thailand is not in a mess, unlike most of the rest of the world, and just to let you know, few, if indeed any ,on this forum are considering investing here and cannabis is not currently "only for medical purposes"

On 1/16/2026 at 10:33 AM, sungod said:

Perhaps you should go to one where they dont allow smoking?

I don't think there are any?

On 1/16/2026 at 10:11 AM, SABloke said:

IMHO this is a mistake for PP. They garnered support by being a "progressive" party and this appealed to the younger generation. Taking this strong stance against weed is trying to pander to the older voters, but they will lose support from others since young Thais can understand how devastating this would be for thousands of small business. Also, despite what the average AN poster thinks, lot of Thais smoke weed and were pleased when it was decriminalised.

So says an old @SABloke.

Speaking as your "average AN poster" please furnish evidence of "a lot of Thais smoke weed. While you're at it, why do you consider yourself an above average AN poster?

As a father involved with my teenage lad's basketball playing, attending tournaments with his team and meeting hundreds of like-minded boys, girls, young men and women, they're really not interested in having any stinking weed "devastating" their life. They're and not much interested in beer and spirits either.

20 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Pathetic!

Why don’t you put you beloved alcohol on the narcotic list as well then, given the fact that alcohol causes way more damage not only to the addict, but also their social environment than cannabis ever will?

Classic example of people who have no clue whatsoever telling others what they can or can’t do!

By introducing the timeless whataboutery of the medical and social evil of alcohol to a dope thread, your post is a classic example of clueless lecturing.

19 hours ago, sungod said:

I believe it better than seeing pathetic old men hanging out in open bars with girls half/quarter their age.

Point of order! There are NO girls half/quarter the age of the clientele at Bodega bar at 13/2 and Second.

Absolutely none.

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Regulation not criminalisation. As for more dope shops in Thailamd than 711's this was the case and just goes to show how huge the industry became almost overnight. Big money now being closed down to be put into the hands of a few.

You mean back into the hands of the man that spearheaded the legalisation in the first place?

On 1/15/2026 at 8:12 PM, Stocky said:

You need to look for a new bar

Or move out of Pattaya or Patong?

2 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

You mean back into the hands of the man that spearheaded the legalisation in the first place?

Nope. I mean the generals.

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

As an adjective to describe people addicted to alcohol, the word alcoholic sounds just fine, and if the cap fits wear it. I don't care what you put into your body, its up to you.

But best of luck finding a similar word to describe anybody who is actually addicted to cannabis or for that matter any person who is actually addicted .

The clinical term for marijuana addiction is Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD), also called cannabis dependence, which describes continued cannabis use despite negative impacts, with common informal terms including "weed addiction" or "pot addiction".

The clinically addicted are out there, they just don't know it, or they deny it.

Hope this helps

1 hour ago, sungod said:

So you place sex tourists above people who like a puff? Strange fella........

As a born-again sex tourist, I consider myself above the cannabis-dependent of the species.

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

I beg to differ the worst "visitors" any country are without those following the "religion of peace" who have no intention of ever leaving or indeed assimilating into a non muslim society.

Readers note, that whooshing sound you just heard is @Bday Prang soaring off topic (again).

10 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Nope. I mean the generals.

True. I guess he stepped on a few toes there when he was Health Minister and DPM. Maybe he should stick with construction?

Oh, wait...

15 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Ridiculous post , what is the difference between a liquor store and a dispensary as far as "the children " are concerned. Except perhaps that liquor stores sell their products in quantities that can and do kill people.

As it happens "the children" are not allowed to buy either until they reach 18 or 21 or whatever the age is these days , By this time they will be adults and able to decide for themselves without the reefer madness brigade trying to influence them into choosing alcohol over cannabis. What kind of fool are you?

So because alcohol is sold openly, society has to accept the cannabis craze? What kind of twisted logic is that? What's next? Cocaine, heroine,yaba? Talk about foolish!

18 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

That's because of guys like in the below link. They run Thailand, and don't want any competition to their product/s. Sad, really. Thailand could have been seen as progressive when it comes to cannabis on the global stage. Alas, the old Thai dinosaurs refuse to be happy with their billions, to the point they have to kill off a complete industry to protect their interests.

https://www.forbes.com/profile/charoen-sirivadhanabhakdi/

Might be, but I don't think alcohol and weed are interchangeable because they do different things...

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

By introducing the timeless whataboutery of the medical and social evil of alcohol to a dope thread, your post is a classic example of clueless lecturing.

If that's your opinion then you clearly utterly missed the point!

Just compare someone's mental and physical capabilities of someone who's been smoking weed on a daily basis and someone downing a bottle of vodka a day for 2 decades and then tell me again how booze should remain legal and weed shouldn't!

18 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

If that's your opinion then you clearly utterly missed the point!

Just compare someone's mental and physical capabilities of someone who's been smoking weed on a daily basis and someone downing a bottle of vodka a day for 2 decades and then tell me again how booze should remain legal and weed shouldn't!

Why don't YOU show US your weird science?

Go ahead. We'll promise not to laugh.

5 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

For gods sake change the record, you have become a laughing stock

The overall majority of businesses were not and are still not operating "Against the legislation" at all, a small minority that may not have complied fully, in one way or another, have been "visited" by the authorities and either brought into line or decided to close of their own accord , I have not heard of any who have been "shut down" forcibly , have you ?

This is why some seek to change the current legislation, and explains why there have been few if any business owners fined or sent to prison for contravening the existing legislation

Stop wittering on about "medical use only" and " but but but Anutin said " it was not just decriminalised (whatever that is supposed to mean) it was legalised , and still is perfectly legal and available for those over 21 who are not pregnant or lactating.

Was the ban on under 21's and pregnant women indulging intended for the ears of the "qualified doctors" who you think should be dispensing cannabis? That would clearly be ridiculous as doctors prescribe all sorts of drugs,to all sorts of people, without such government interference, Thankfully they rely solely on medical facts and guidance

I'll try Putting it simply for you , The lack of police enforcement for non existent rules is all the proof that you need

Anyway go get yourself a beer and chill out,... Oh hang on a minute its only 10am so that would be illegal. even for over 21's who are not pregnant, but when the time comes , if you are thinking of having two or more, just make sure you buy them at about the same time you buy the first one and definitely before you have drunk any of it , One would not want to break the law by purchasing alcohol when intoxicated would one

Mate, you seem to be having a mental breakdown...

I haven't seen any cannabis shops with a doctor attending...so they still operating "against current legislation," which was for medicinal purposes only.

The rest of your rant is just plain crazy, irrelevant, irrational and illogical...besides being damn stupid.

2 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Might be, but I don't think alcohol and weed are interchangeable because they do different things...

It's a new industry, and one that the old school billionaire Thai's are not familiar with. They probably have the idea that a lot of people will turn to cannabis in the future for a higher high, which is more easy on the body, and at a cheaper price.

Rather than entering the market and diversifying their investments, they are most likely using their influence to kill it off.

45 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Mate, you seem to be having a mental breakdown...

I haven't seen any cannabis shops with a doctor attending...so they still operating "against current legislation," which was for medicinal purposes only.

The rest of your rant is just plain crazy, irrelevant, irrational and illogical...besides being damn stupid.

but but but "Anutin said" lol