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Eleven months ago, there were still sharp prison sentences and high fines for possession and consumption of cannabis in Thailand. Since legalization on June 9, 2022, the Southeast Asian kingdom has been the undisputed stonemason’s paradise on earth. Shops selling “Ganja”, the so-called intoxicating weed in the country, can now be found on almost every street. The offer is cannabis buds with the power to knock even the deadliest junkies overseas.
THC levels of around 25 percent are easy to find. Prices aren’t cheap, but things are booming. And even if it’s forbidden to smoke outside: in Bangkok, too, there is a sweet and spicy scent in the air everywhere. To the great sadness of the authorities who seem to have lost control of legalizing the previously controlled substance.
“Flower buffets” are now being advertised on Facebook and social media. Then enjoy the most exotic sticky buds from both indica and sativa species: as much as you want for an all-inclusive price. While this is less than a two-hour flight from Singapore, death can still occur from possession of more than 500 grams of marijuana. In Thailand, on the other hand, cannabis flowers are sold by the kilo to the public, including in malls where stores have given strange names such as “Mango Sticky Rice”, “Chardonnay”, “Cherry Runds”, “Mac 2”. “Super Lemon Ambush”. It was grown in high-tech labs around the country, and some were imported illegally. However, the market appears to be barely regulated.
Recreational use of marijuana is actually a crime
After all, the government had also hoped to provide an economic engine through cannabis. It was believed that hemp products should give a new impetus to the textile, cosmetics and other industries. Especially in the important tourism sector, great opportunities were expected. Meanwhile, unsuspecting tourists are now victims of Thailand’s messy cannabis policy. Because strictly by law, cannabis flowers can only be sold and consumed for medical use. But nobody seems to care about that. Even when purchasing, no one is asking for identification or identification that marijuana has been prescribed as a remedy.
Using cannabis for pleasure is still a criminal offense in Thailand. This is hard to imagine, especially since flowers are sold freely and without restrictions everywhere. This is why most tourists seem to have no clue that they face penalties for possessing marijuana as an intoxicating substance and smoking pot outdoors.
Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, head of the Thai Hotels Association, openly admits that the tourism industry has benefited from the legalization of cannabis since last June. But nobody seems to know the rules, not even hoteliers. For example, she asks if there is a law against smoking marijuana in hotel rooms. And if so, what would be the penalty for illegal consumption? “We were not informed about how to deal with such cases,” Marisa said, as quoted by the Bangkok Post.
The tourism industry demands clear regulations
“The current situation is problematic: “If we could use cannabis to promote medical tourism, this would complete the tourism industry,” says Yuthasak Supasorn, Director of Tourism Authority (TAT). admits that it’s not as important as – “Maybe three points out of ten. We have strengths in many other areas.” The Thai tourism boss says current tourism products should suffice. Marijuana should not be relied upon to market Thailand as a travel destination.
“There are many loopholes in cannabis legislation,” says Chotechuang Soorangura, of the Thailand Travel Agents Association (TTAA). Legalization threatens to bring more problems than opportunities. Tourists are even threatened by having cannabis mixed in food or drink without their knowledge. And Chotechuang asks rhetorically, possible drunkenness aside, if they were caught or randomly tested when they returned to their home country. “The legalization of cannabis may continue,” says the leading representative of the tourism industry. But we need clear regulations and we must step back to educate our own population.”
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
