Is Thailand the New Weed Capital of the World? | Foreign Correspondent
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Published 2022-10-06
It’s the country which gave us the words ‘bong’ and ‘ganja’.
In Thailand, cannabis has been used for centuries in traditional medicine.
But when the US launched its ‘war on drugs’ in the 1970s, Thailand became a key partner, placing cannabis on the narcotics list and toughening penalties against it.
This June, the country took it off that list, meaning cannabis sellers and recreational users no longer risked jail for selling or possessing cannabis.
In tourist hotspots, a ‘ganja-culture’ is fast taking hold. In Bangkok’s Khao San Road nightspot, it seems easier to buy a joint than a Pad Thai.
‘Now it’s legal – God gave a gift for us’, says Choco Gonzales, a cannabis seller in Bangkok.
And it’s party time for tourists at the famous full moon party at Koh Phangan in the country’s southeast.
‘Wherever you go now, it’s Amsterdam again in Asia’, says an Italian tourist at the party.
As Australia reignites on its own debate about legalising cannabis, Southeast Asia correspondent Mazoe Ford travels around Thailand to meet the new crop of ‘ganja-preneurs’ cashing in on the green rush.
In Bangkok, Kitty Chopaka, a shop owner selling cannabis products and a leading advocate of decriminalisation, is still pinching herself.
‘I never thought in my lifetime that this would actually happen…But at the same time I knew it has to be done.’
In the southern island of Samui, resort owner Carl Lamb reckons the liberalisation of the laws is attracting overseas tourists.
‘You can really feel it's reinvigorated the market. There's a new energy here.’
Ford also hitches a ride on the private jet of the politician behind the policy – Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
He takes us to Thailand’s east to spruik the medicinal cannabis industry which the government hopes will become a billion-dollar industry.
‘It turned out that majority of my voters chose to vote for my party… some people even called my party (the) “Cannabis Party”’, he tells Ford.
But not everyone welcomes the change. More than a thousand doctors have warned that the drug was delisted before proper safeguards and regulations were in place.
‘We don't want to be the cannabis haven of the world’, say Doctor Chanchai Sittipunt from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine.
But Kitty Chopaka says going back isn’t possible - the genie is out of the bottle.
‘That bottle is broken. It’s gone!’
Read more here: ab.co/3ebD2pG
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All Comments (21)
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As an Australian who lives in the kingdom and previously lived in Canada and witnessed both countries legalize weed, it really is no big deal. Australia needs to lift itself out of the dark ages
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I'm an Australian that has gone to court twice for marijuana use, once in the 80's and another in the 90's for personal use cultivation. These are the only 2 crimes I've ever committed, but I now have a criminal record. While I was in court another person had a court case charged with assault, he punched someone in the face 3 times, the victim had to go to hospital, but he got a good behavior bond , which means after a certain period it comes off your criminal record. I got a criminal record (a conviction) and had to pay a large fine for growing 3 plants in my backyard. My neighbors had got robbed and the police just happened to look over their fence when they were investigating the robbery and saw my plants. BTW there were several court cases that day just for marijuana use or possession. It's such a waste of the legal system resources.
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Yes to Thailand. First Asian country to dump the draconian laws. I hope more Asian countries follow suit. No one should ever be arrested for weed.
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As a Ganja farmer from India, this is really delightful to see how legalization can bring positive changes to the country both economically and socially. It's sad that weed has been around India for thousands of years and yet it is discriminated like a drug.
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I've lived in Thailand for 9 years. Never in my wildest thoughts would I have seen the Thai government legalize weed. Amazing Thailand.
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I live in Thailand and went to this guy's shop (Sukhumweed) on opening day, when I asked them "is there a limit to how much I can buy?" This guy pops his head out from the back room and shouts at me "HOW MANY OUNCES YOU WANNA BUY???" Lmao love it, it's pretty wild going from something you can potentially get the death penalty for, to it being everywhere overnight.
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Psilocybin saved my life. I was addicted to heroin for 15 years and after Psilocybin treatment I will be 3 years clean in September. I have zero cravings. This is something that truly needs to be more broadly used in addiction treatment.
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As a reporter, it was ur job to bring in different perspectives and u did a great job. Thank you.
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We should really be thanking all the people who continued using and growing this wonderful plant all throughout prohibition regardless of its criminal status. It's not easy doing the right thing when everyone is telling you it is wrong.
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As a Canadian who has enjoyed enlightenment and freedom from prosecution for several years I just want to say, congratulations to Thailand and welcome to the 21st Century.
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I smoked for over 25 yrs and quit 3 yrs ago. I thought I never would quit, but I got tired of placing a bandaid over my own mental health issues. Not to mention being singled out as the stoner in the family. It's not a good look if you have career goals. It is definitely more accepted now than in the 90s when I started, but if you want a high paying job that you operate heavy equipment, or anything safety related quitting is best. No hate towards pot users.
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Got my 15 yr old son Brenlon and my crew tuning in tonight thanks Hvac shop talk
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Btw, just because it became legal, it doesn’t mean than children are going to start using it. Just like how millions of children are not drinking vodka everyday because it’s legal
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it makes me happy to see the passion these people have for the plant itself, not just its final product
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Am from Vietnam is not legal there, when I see this video just is like living in the dream. Very happy❤️
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A lot of Thai people are so wonderful. Smiling is part of a lot of their existing.
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It's time to make it legal around the world 😍😍
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I’m in Thailand right now and it’s life per usual. The critics of weed legalisation will tell you that a society changes (for the worse) after legalising the green. This is the 5th time I’ve visited TH since 2013 and I can happily say it’s the same as I remember…. I’m from NZ and getting weed there involves dealing with gang members- scary stuff … (yep, yep, I need a new dealer….)but here, buying weed is smooth, easy and chill. You have so much choice re stands etc. It’s soooo refreshing not feeling like a criminal. PS to all the haters - I’m a productive 30 year old who owns a house, works IT(remotely) earns 100k+++ and smokes daily 😎 😎
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the local grower walking in with the bags full of beautiful mother nature over his head is a whole vibe and a half lol i love the culture and tradition of cannabis in thailand the whole energy there seems so positive. God Bless that country
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I lived in Bangkok for many years and Samui. Pot was always available. Pot was also flown in from Mexico and apparently immigration turned a blind eye. Incredibly strong pot as well. This was way before this law came in. Samui pot was compressed and full of stem and seed but the Bangkok stuff was phenomenal. Thai police would work with sellers. Unsuspecting tourists would buy , the seller would call the cops, tourist would get caught, surrender their passport and then have to buy it back.
