10 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Ever since cannabis was legalized in Thailand back in 2022, you constantly see people having conniptions about the smell in public. Apparently entire childhoods are being ruined now because somebody caught a faint whiff of a joint while walking past a weed shop in Sukhumvit or Patong.

And yet after traveling around southern Europe for the last couple of months, I honestly came away thinking Thailand still looks fairly conservative by comparison.

The amount of public cannabis smoking I have seen across parts of Europe is absolutely everywhere, and not just in tourist areas. You smell it drifting through the streets, out of apartment windows, outside local bars, in parks, at outdoor cafés, on city benches, near beaches, and nobody anywhere even reacts to it.

People just carry on eating their paninis and drinking their coffee like nothing remotely unusual is happening.

Meanwhile in Thailand you would think somebody had detonated a chemical weapon in the food court because some bloke two streets away lit up a joint.

What I also noticed in Europe is that nobody seems particularly interested in policing every other person’s behaviour. Nobody is dramatically breathing through a napkin to show their disapproval. Nobody is clutching their pearls in public either. Nor is anybody posting online essays about “the decline of local society” because they smelled cannabis for twelve seconds while buying a muffin.

In some countries it is basically legal anyway. Cannabis clubs exist openly in a few European countries now, people smoke recreationally, and of course places like Amsterdam in Northern Europe do not even require explanation at this point because everyone already knows the deal.

That does not mean everybody loves the smell of it of course. Plenty of people probably dislike it. But there seems to be a much stronger tolerant attitude of “it is people's personal space and right to privacy so it is what it is” rather than behaving childishly like the entire social fabric is collapsing in real time.

Sometimes I wonder if part of the reaction in Thailand is not really about the smoke itself, but more the sudden visibility of it. Because objectively speaking, if you spend any amount of time in parts of Europe now, the smell of cannabis is so common it almost blends into the background alongside cigarettes, traffic fumes, and blokes drenched in mingy aftershave.

To hear some people talk in Thailand though, you would think civilization itself is hanging by a thread because somebody outside a beach bar mildly smelled of Gorilla Glue.

Was it actually legalised, or was it given the ok by the then Minister For Health Anutin as it's alleged that he has an enormous interest in the business.

Edited May 23May 23 by Rams86

10 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Ever since cannabis was legalized in Thailand back in 2022, you constantly see people having conniptions about the smell in public. Apparently entire childhoods are being ruined now because somebody caught a faint whiff of a joint while walking past a weed shop in Sukhumvit or Patong.

And yet after traveling around southern Europe for the last couple of months, I honestly came away thinking Thailand still looks fairly conservative by comparison.

The amount of public cannabis smoking I have seen across parts of Europe is absolutely everywhere, and not just in tourist areas. You smell it drifting through the streets, out of apartment windows, outside local bars, in parks, at outdoor cafés, on city benches, near beaches, and nobody anywhere even reacts to it.

People just carry on eating their paninis and drinking their coffee like nothing remotely unusual is happening.

Meanwhile in Thailand you would think somebody had detonated a chemical weapon in the food court because some bloke two streets away lit up a joint.

What I also noticed in Europe is that nobody seems particularly interested in policing every other person’s behaviour. Nobody is dramatically breathing through a napkin to show their disapproval. Nobody is clutching their pearls in public either. Nor is anybody posting online essays about “the decline of local society” because they smelled cannabis for twelve seconds while buying a muffin.

In some countries it is basically legal anyway. Cannabis clubs exist openly in a few European countries now, people smoke recreationally, and of course places like Amsterdam in Northern Europe do not even require explanation at this point because everyone already knows the deal.

That does not mean everybody loves the smell of it of course. Plenty of people probably dislike it. But there seems to be a much stronger tolerant attitude of “it is people's personal space and right to privacy so it is what it is” rather than behaving childishly like the entire social fabric is collapsing in real time.

Sometimes I wonder if part of the reaction in Thailand is not really about the smoke itself, but more the sudden visibility of it. Because objectively speaking, if you spend any amount of time in parts of Europe now, the smell of cannabis is so common it almost blends into the background alongside cigarettes, traffic fumes, and blokes drenched in mingy aftershave.

To hear some people talk in Thailand though, you would think civilization itself is hanging by a thread because somebody outside a beach bar mildly smelled of Gorilla Glue.

cliff notes

Back in my weed smoking days I used to go to Amsterdam one weekend every month to partake of some decent herb.

Warmoesstraat in the red light district stank of weed, jizz and sullied quim. You got used to the smell after a while and actually came to embrace it.

17 minutes ago, Keeps said:

Back in my weed smoking days I used to go to Amsterdam one weekend every month to partake of some decent herb.

Warmoesstraat in the red light district stank of weed, jizz and sullied quim. You got used to the smell after a while and actually came to embrace it.

About 25 years ago I did the RLD in Amsterdam for a couple of days. I wasn't a toker at the time, but gulped a few beers between encounters. Was good fun, but also a bit harrowing as some of the girls were real hustlers I recall.

7 minutes ago, BilllyGOAT said:

About 25 years ago I did the RLD in Amsterdam for a couple of days. I wasn't a toker at the time, but gulped a few beers between encounters. Was good fun, but also a bit harrowing as some of the girls were real hustlers I recall.

I never went for the flange - just for smoking and a few beers then an inordinate amount of food when the munchies kicked in. Fantastic place to have the munchies due to the ethnic diversity. Had some fantastic Surinamese food and I remember fondly the soft rolls with crayfish tails and cocktail sauce. I would then spend most of the night gasping for breath with savage indigestion whilst trying not to choke to death on the rising bile. Good times.

I worked in London City then so I would shoot off to City airport on the DLR Friday mid pm for a KLM flight to Schipol. Hand luggage only so no waiting about and jump on the train to Centraal station. Same Hotel, same room every stay. I could be necking a beer and rolling a joint by 5pm. Back to City airport Sunday evening, hotel in London for the night, at my desk by 7.00am on the Monday morning.

How I miss those days.

It's not just in Thailand isn't it?

"I can't stand the smell" sounds less bigoted than "I can't stand people getting high".

21 minutes ago, Keeps said:

I never went for the flange - just for smoking and a few beers then an inordinate amount of food when the munchies kicked in. Fantastic place to have the munchies due to the ethnic diversity. Had some fantastic Surinamese food and I remember fondly the soft rolls with crayfish tails and cocktail sauce. I would then spend most of the night gasping for breath with savage indigestion whilst trying not to choke to death on the rising bile. Good times.

I worked in London City then so I would shoot off to City airport on the DLR Friday mid pm for a KLM flight to Schipol. Hand luggage only so no waiting about and jump on the train to Centraal station. Same Hotel, same room every stay. I could be necking a beer and rolling a joint by 5pm. Back to City airport Sunday evening, hotel in London for the night, at my desk by 7.00am on the Monday morning.

How I miss those days.

Sounds like good times and great memories. I actually spent about a week in London on that same trip. I think I went to Amsterdam first and then hit London on the way back. London was OK. Wasn't enamored by it. My friend who was living there at the time had a very nice flat though and took me on a couple of epic road trips. Got to see some a few of beautiful historical cities around England. Those memories are probably the most noteworthy ones from the trip. Amsterdam wasn't particularly fascinating either, just a bit of a laugh. But I did enjoy the Reichs museum.

11 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

By comparison to all that, weed smoke is a breath of fresh air.

Maybe for you.

I have a neighbour who smokes weed a couple of times every evening out on his terrace, and the stink comes into my place two doors away.. When he is not there, it seems he rents to pot heads as well.

My daughter is often sitting at the table doing homework or studying and asks me to close the doors because of the smell. So we had to close them even during the recent heatwaves. Cigarette smoke is not nice, but is nowhere near as pervasive as weed.

10 hours ago, Crossy said:

As a Brit. I had to Google "conniption"

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a good conniption fit, once in awhile, and when warranted.

Why, just this afternoon, I had one myself.

It happened like this:

a. The local power company failed to send me electric power around noon.

b. Then 90 minutes later, when the power was "restored", my equipment was still emitting voltage/power alarms.

c. So, when the tech guys came to my house, and when they insisted, twice, and without first letting me explain the problem, they insisted that there IS NO problem.

d. Well, of course, that was the time for my conniption fit.

e. All they told me to do was: Jai YanYan....... (but, how would that fix the root cause of the problem?)

f. In our modern technical world, stability and reliability is crucial for a well-functioning society.

g. When this fails, then we must resort to a conniption.

h. Thankfully, I have not otherwise needed a conniption in many years.

10 hours ago, Crossy said:

As a Brit. I had to Google "conniption"

Yep, conniptions is a good word, mate. A bit like "having a tizzy fit." Or throwing the toys out the pram.

What about "discombobulated"? - It can be one of a few possible outcomes after having a conniption. Another good word you don't hear so often in conversation these days.

17 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Ever since cannabis was legalized in Thailand back in 2022, you constantly see people having conniptions about the smell in public. Apparently entire childhoods are being ruined now because somebody caught a faint whiff of a joint while walking past a weed shop in Sukhumvit or Patong.

And yet after traveling around southern Europe for the last couple of months, I honestly came away thinking Thailand still looks fairly conservative by comparison.

The amount of public cannabis smoking I have seen across parts of Europe is absolutely everywhere, and not just in tourist areas. You smell it drifting through the streets, out of apartment windows, outside local bars, in parks, at outdoor cafés, on city benches, near beaches, and nobody anywhere even reacts to it.

People just carry on eating their paninis and drinking their coffee like nothing remotely unusual is happening.

Meanwhile in Thailand you would think somebody had detonated a chemical weapon in the food court because some bloke two streets away lit up a joint.

What I also noticed in Europe is that nobody seems particularly interested in policing every other person’s behaviour. Nobody is dramatically breathing through a napkin to show their disapproval. Nobody is clutching their pearls in public either. Nor is anybody posting online essays about “the decline of local society” because they smelled cannabis for twelve seconds while buying a muffin.

In some countries it is basically legal anyway. Cannabis clubs exist openly in a few European countries now, people smoke recreationally, and of course places like Amsterdam in Northern Europe do not even require explanation at this point because everyone already knows the deal.

That does not mean everybody loves the smell of it of course. Plenty of people probably dislike it. But there seems to be a much stronger tolerant attitude of “it is people's personal space and right to privacy so it is what it is” rather than behaving childishly like the entire social fabric is collapsing in real time.

Sometimes I wonder if part of the reaction in Thailand is not really about the smoke itself, but more the sudden visibility of it. Because objectively speaking, if you spend any amount of time in parts of Europe now, the smell of cannabis is so common it almost blends into the background alongside cigarettes, traffic fumes, and blokes drenched in mingy aftershave.

To hear some people talk in Thailand though, you would think civilization itself is hanging by a thread because somebody outside a beach bar mildly smelled of Gorilla Glue.

If I can smell it isn't your personal space.

Have travelled around Europe extensively and never smelt marijuana anywhere.

Never had a Bendiorm trash tourist or local smoking it on a pavement around other people. Infact alot of city centres are now smoke free in certain areas.

Most countries marijuana is still illegal. The few countries where it is legal, is strictly monitored for home use ... smoking in public will get you a criminal record.

The problem people have in Thailand is that you have trash visitors smoking it in public, with families and children around. It also attracts Benidormy type visitors.

Well, like it or hate it, we may be smelling less of it in coming months. The government does seem to be making good on its threat to shut down many of the cannabis shops. There was a very large one on a prominant soi, in a trendy, inner Bangkok area (not Suk) until just the other day when it disappeared. I don't know why TBH. Maybe the rent was too high. Maybe it moved elsewhere. But I never saw anyone going in or out, so finances might also have been an issue. But Bangkok's middle class is well-known for jumping on every fad to come along - only to shut up shop after 6 months in bizz and all that setting up and kitting out down the drain. Small coffee shops, craft beer joints and cannabis shops, child enhancement classes and art shops on upper floors of shopping centres with little foot traffic...etc.

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Have travelled around Europe extensively and never smelt marijuana anywhere.

Never had a Bendiorm trash tourist or local smoking it on a pavement around other people. Infact alot of city centres are now smoke free in certain areas.

Most countries marijuana is still illegal. The few countries where it is legal, is strictly monitored for home use ... smoking in public will get you a criminal record.

The problem people have in Thailand is that you have trash visitors smoking it in public, with families and children around. It also attracts Benidormy type visitors.

Ban it and criminalize it. Problem solved.

Delete

Edited May 24May 24 by Fat is a type of crazy