Caught With Weed

[cdnvic]

Lets limit discussion to the OP's friend's predicament and leave the pro/anti drug statements and arguments for another day.

[ObsessiveAddict]

Well that sucks. Good luck to your friend

[theslime]

Why people do not learn Dont do drugs it is illegal in Thailand how many times do people have to be told there is more to life than drugs

Not all people are non smoking, non drinking, non paracetamol, non life saving drug ,like you. Show some empathy for a fallen soul.and Im sure you will feel better. By the way, what do you do to amuse your self besides watching the Telly.

[FritsSikkink]

www.thailand-lawyer.com/marijuana-arrest.html

For simple use of marijuana in small amounts, the offense is punishable by a fine of no more than 50,000 Baht and/or imprisonment of not more than 5 years

[SteeleJoe]

This is a death penalty case, without a doubt and one sure way to give up the habit I suppose.

Too funny. There's always at least one: "They catch you with drugs in Thailand you are executed!"

Without a doubt, eh? Not even close.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

Edited November 22, 2012 by SteeleJoe

[giddyup]

As it is difficult to enter Thailand without seeing warnings about illegal drug use, he must have known what would happen if caught.

No sympathy here.

Before anyone asks; yes I do drink alcohol and I do smoke tobacco. I am aware of the risks of both to my health, as a cannabis user should also be aware of the risks to his/her health.

It's not a 'little bit of harmless weed.' Cannabis is a dangerous drug; medical research has proven that there is a link between cannabis use and mental health problems. I personally know three people who have developed paranoia and/or schizophrenia following cannabis use; well actually it's only two now, the third killed himself.

It was his death that finally convinced me to stop using it.

Finally, last time I checked neither alcohol nor tobacco were illegal in Thailand; cannabis is.

So one person's death stopped you using cannabis, yet millions die through tobacco use and still you continue to smoke?

Edited November 22, 2012 by giddyup

[Kilgore Trout]

Not much weed really a bit over an ounce. Silly getting caught thou. I doubt whether he will do any jail time. Cops dont really care that much about weed.

If the paperwork is done like others have said it will cost more for the whole thing to go away.

Not true; 30 grams is the line. Under that amount you are talking about a fine, for a foreigner once the case is done he will be turned over to immigration. If his visa has expired by that time he will be spending time in imm. detention untill arrangements have been made for deportation and blacklisting.

However, since its over 30g, its very likely he will get a year (thats basically the policy for weed; one year per 30grams, for yaba one year per pill).

Better have a good lawyer and high hopes, this will undoubtedly cost hundreds of thousands of baht or more.

[Kilgore Trout]

www.thailand-lawyer.com/marijuana-arrest.html

For simple use of marijuana in small amounts, the offense is punishable by a fine of no more than 50,000 Baht and/or imprisonment of not more than 5 years

Over 30 grams is not considered personal use; the charges will probably be intent to distribute and depending on the amount it can add up to a lot more than 5 years.

However with this amount I think he's looking at about a year.

[Mario2008]

A friend got caught with 23.5 grams for personal use, and the cops would not take a bribe (a considerable amount). He was sentenced to 7 years, then after 2.5 years in prison he was released on parol on the King's birthday, and deported out of the country. It cost him about bt3000 a month to stay healthy in prison.

I believe more than 20 grams means intend to sell, that is a whole different category then possesion. That means jail, deportation and blacklisting.

[bangkokburning]

That is a lot of weed for Thailand. Last time I heard about 1gm would cost a farang about 40k at the first level of processing oh, and a year in jail.

What an ass. Most likely dealing it as well.

Deportation and blacklist is the least of this mugs problems. If I was him and that were offered to me with a 100k fine — Id be on the plane tomorrow.

Bet this guy is looking at ten years. A Thai, maybe 2-3?

Edited November 22, 2012 by bangkokburning

[Mario2008]

This is a death penalty case, without a doubt and one sure way to give up the habit I suppose.

Nonsense.

Like many countries, Thailand categories drugs in different clases, while for the higher classes the death penalty is possible, it is no option for intend to sell marijuana. That is the lowest class of drugs.

[Stradavarius37]

The laws of the land must be observed. People have a right to determine the laws under which they are governed. Thailand has decided that drugs take a serious toll on its population and their legal system shows no tolerance to people who traffic or use it.

Maybe your friend will get lucky - but if he gets put in prison he has no one but himself to blame.

[SteeleJoe]

Thailand has decided that drugs take a serious toll on its population and their legal system shows no tolerance to people who traffic or use it.

Yeah, that must be why they have locked up all those big time drug traffickers and stamped out the drug trade. The legal system.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

[Tolley]

Thailand has decided that drugs take a serious toll on its population and their legal system shows no tolerance to people who traffic or use it.

Yeah, that must be why they have locked up all those big time drug traffickers and stamped out the drug trade. The legal system.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

Yeah I am sure it serves a great purpose in locking up recreational pot smokers. Really caught a big fish here.

You can probably blame the US for Asias tough drug laws as i think it was US foreign policy that pressured Asian governments into legislating tough drug laws.

Edited November 22, 2012 by Tolley

[homeseeker]

OP, quite apart from your friend being an idiot the golden rule for committing a crime is: do not get caught.

[taninthai]

Guys we are talking weed here not heroin or crack

I don't know if any of you even live in Thailand by some of your comments,once you get out off Bangkok weed is everywhere in Thailand a high percent of lOcals smoke it everyday.

As long as the ops friend is not an asshol_e and shows respect to the people dealing with this he could walk with just a fine no deportation,however if he thinks he is a cocky jack the lad type then yes anything could happen.

My advise get a lawyer asap and start negotiations to avoid a court hearing

[Tolley]

The laws of the land must be observed. People have a right to determine the laws under which they are governed. Thailand has decided that drugs take a serious toll on its population and their legal system shows no tolerance to people who traffic or use it.

Maybe your friend will get lucky - but if he gets put in prison he has no one but himself to blame.

The problem in Thailand is the way that the laws are selectively enforced or quite often not enforced.

[SteeleJoe]

Thailand has decided that drugs take a serious toll on its population and their legal system shows no tolerance to people who traffic or use it.

Yeah, that must be why they have locked up all those big time drug traffickers and stamped out the drug trade. The legal system.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

Yeah I am sure it serves a great purpose in locking up recreational pot smokers. Really caught a big fish here.

You can probably blame the US for Asias tough drug laws as i think it was US foreign policy that pressured Asian governments into legislating tough drug laws.

I hope you realize I was being facetious?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

[Beetlejuice]

Charges for Possession of marijuana in Thailand can entail the following punishments:

For possession of up to 10kg, the maximum sentence is 5 years in prison and/or a fine of 50,000 baht

For possession of 10kg or more, this is considered as possession with intent to sell. The sentence can range from 2 - 15 years in prison, and/or include a fine of 20,000 to 150,000 baht. Charges can also be levied for amounts of 10kg or more for the intent to produce, import or export cannabis. The sentence is the same.

http://www.thailand-lawyer.com/marijuana-arrest.html

As for the death penalty I mentioned earlier, that`s just wishful thinking on my part.

[DLock]

This is not going to end well.

If he had under the amount that is considered "personal use", he likely would have gotten away with a stiff fine after some "negotiation".

Because he has an amount classified as "distribution" it is a totally different matter and he will go before the courts and it will at the discretion of the judge. A good lawyer will definitely help, and will be seriously expensive. He may walk with a fine, or he may do a year or more and then be deported. His business visa will also likely be cancelled. He is likely too deep in the system to have the charges "dropped". Best bet is to try and have the amount reduced to "personal use".

Was it worth the risk?

[taninthai]

^

they are obviously thai prices , I would love to see a fearing get caught with 10 kg and get of with a 50,000 bht fine....lol

They must have another price list for ferang

[SteeleJoe]

As for the death penalty I mentioned earlier, that`s just wishful thinking on my part.

wishful thinking = thinking you know what you are talking about when in fact you don't?

OK

In any case I agree with a previous poster: wishing someone dead for possessing cannabis is really twisted.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

Edited November 22, 2012 by SteeleJoe

[Neeranam]

Why people do not learn Dont do drugs it is illegal in Thailand how many times do people have to be told there is more to life than drugs

last i checked prostitution was illegal too, doesnt deter many on here though does it.

This is what really annoys me about many of the self righteous posters on this board, They bang on about how awful people are who overstay their visa and how anybody that breaks the law taking drugs deserves everything they get but we all know where many of them met their wives so it seems they are very selective about the laws they respect and those they feel they can ignore.

Obviously, the penalty for breaking the laws regarding marijuana are more severe, so it may be justifiable to point out how stupid somebody is to get themselves into such a situation but in no way can anybody claim the moral high ground if they have ever consorted with a lady of the night during their time in this country.

Whether this person was stupid or not is besides the point as far as I'm concerned. Nobody deserves to be locked up for smoking weed and if I was able to help in any way, I would.

@ Scully - Bob Marley smoked more than that in one day I believe, let alone two.

Good post.

The law isn't that strict for marijuana use. Usually around a 10,000 baht fine. Gambling isn't as bad as people think too - around 3,000 baht for small stuff.

My mate once bought dope for Bob Marley in Glasgow - he refused to smoke it as it wasn't grass.

And how many self righteous here drink alcohol - a drug much worse in many ways than ganja.

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed.

[NeverSure]

I'm having a hard time with this. OP says his friend is busted for 35 grams. He asks serious questions about his mate's business license, visa, jail time... It's really serious.

Then some are helpful but too many go off on tangents about anything but this guy's legal and financial issues. Business license. He has a business? Is he going to lose it? Is he going to lose everything?

Without debating the legality, fairness, morality, or anything else, I really feel for the OP. He isn't busted. His friend is. I feel for the friend too. He screwed up but I feel bad about it all.

Do we have no feelings at all for other people, but rather take the opportunity to rant about our personal beliefs about Thais, or debate MJ, or whatever?

Can we help the guy - the OP?

[Beetlejuice]

As for the death penalty I mentioned earlier, that`s just wishful thinking on my part.

wishful thinking = thinking you know what you are talking about when in fact you don't?

OK

In any case I agree with a previous poster: wishing someone dead for possessing cannabis is really twisted.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

In locations such as Pattaya and other tourist areas the dealing of drugs is rife. There will always be some farang or foreigner somewhere in a bar, hotel lobby or on a street corner who can either be approached or will approach a likely looking tourist to supply them with drugs.

For many it`s just another means to be able to support themselves in Thailand and others maybe working on behalf of a gang, dealing and selling in illegal drugs. Some of these drugs can be lethal, containing poisonous substances that can kill, do kill and have killed.

These are the facts

[krisb]

And I thought I had a bad day!!....

Your friends an idiot who deserves the consequences of his actions.

[Neeranam]

As for the death penalty I mentioned earlier, that`s just wishful thinking on my part.

wishful thinking = thinking you know what you are talking about when in fact you don't?

OK

In any case I agree with a previous poster: wishing someone dead for possessing cannabis is really twisted.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

In locations such as Pattaya and other tourist areas the dealing of drugs is rife. There will always be some farang or foreigner somewhere in a bar, hotel lobby or on a street corner who can either be approached or will approach a likely looking tourist to supply them with drugs.

For many it`s just another means to be able to support themselves in Thailand and others maybe working on behalf of a gang, dealing and selling in illegal drugs. Some of these drugs can be lethal, containing poisonous substances that can kill, do kill and have killed.

These are the facts

Do you drink alcohol ?

Do you have any idea the misery that those beer bars cause. Alcoholism, prostitutes becoming hooked on drugs or committing suicide etc and you have the nerve to talk about ganja use being bad.

Sent from my hammock using Thaivisa Connect App

[DP25]

^

they are obviously thai prices , I would love to see a fearing get caught with 10 kg and get of with a 50,000 bht fine....lol

They must have another price list for ferang

Farang pay more because they afraid to go to court and end up extorted by the police because they think they'll get 20 years for a joint.

[SteeleJoe]

As for the death penalty I mentioned earlier, that`s just wishful thinking on my part.

wishful thinking = thinking you know what you are talking about when in fact you don't?

OK

In any case I agree with a previous poster: wishing someone dead for possessing cannabis is really twisted.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap

In locations such as Pattaya and other tourist areas the dealing of drugs is rife. There will always be some farang or foreigner somewhere in a bar, hotel lobby or on a street corner who can either be approached or will approach a likely looking tourist to supply them with drugs.

For many it`s just another means to be able to support themselves in Thailand and others maybe working on behalf of a gang, dealing and selling in illegal drugs. Some of these drugs can be lethal, containing poisonous substances that can kill, do kill and have killed.

These are the facts

First of all, those may be the "facts" (for the sake of argument) but what have they got to do with:

A) The fact that you had no idea what you were talking about when you stated with such assurance that the case in the OP was definitely a capital offense

That you wish someone would be executed for the possession of a relatively small amount of cannabis?

Further:

Why mention Pattaya and other tourist areas? Drug dealing goes on all over the country.

Marijuana does not contain poisonous substances that can kill, do kill or have killed. Ever.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa ap