Thailand’s days and nights as a weed heaven now look to be numbered

[daiquiri]

When the Move Forward Party and its allies become the next Thai government in August – and even if they don’t – action to classify cannabis once again as an illegal narcotic is inevitable. Poll after poll shows that many Thais don’t want a drugs free for all which, they believe, is a threat to their children’s morals and to public health in general

But this does not mean that the country automatically must return to the old days of mass jailing of Thais and foreigners willy-nilly for smoking pot anywhere on public or private property. The devil, as ever, will be in the detail of a parliamentary bill.

Thongchai Somprasart, spokesman of Thai Freedom Group which represents some farmers and growers, said billions of investment baht are at stake as well as billions more in lucrative sales of the plant for recreational use. “We already know that the medical use of marijuana will not become a crime again, so the emphasis must be on partial criminalization rather than an outright ban.” He adds that legal cannabis smoking could be allowed in “24-hour” tourist cities like Pattaya as long as it occurred in listed cafes etc. Thongchai mentions Holland as an example of where such a policy works well.

An alternative answer is found in Israel where smoking pot is seen as a public health issue, akin to cigarettes, rather than a criminal problem. Citizens or visitors aren’t prosecuted for possession of less than 15 grams at home, whilst larger offenders are subject to fines rather than imprisonment unless they are gross repeaters. If adopted in Thailand, such a policy would result in adults paying for marijuana offences rather like they do for minor traffic offences together with a points system to grade seriousness.

Yet another choice is already available in some American states where adult use of marijuana for medical and non-medical purposes is not prosecuted in “private spaces” or “out of public view”. In this version only smoking outdoors or in the public buildings or in clubs bars and restaurants would be banned. A leaf could also be borrowed from the Volstead Act of 1919 which introduced the prohibition of alcohol era in the United States. It’s worth noting that Volstead criminalized the production and distribution of alcohol but not the actual drinking of it. Applied to Thailand, this would mean that the police emphasis would be on the producers of cannabis rather than the customers.

There’s no question that Thailand requires urgent legislation to sort out the cannabis mess. But simply turning back the clock is hardly the best solution. And there is some hope if only because the Move Forward Party has hardly been consistent. Its MPs supported the medical use of cannabis and failed to object to the delisting of cannabis as a narcotic in June last year. Some members of Move Forward’s coalition with other parties have been similarly ambiguous in the past. What is needed now is open-mindedness and proper research. Playing political games and advocating authoritarian solutions is not what the new Thailand is supposed to represent.

By Barry Kenyon -
May 24, 2023

Source:
https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/ ... red-431972

Congratulations Thailand for fucking it up and for stealing freedom and rights of the people once again!

I am actually monitoring the topic on r/CannabisThailand (Reddit) and reading along the comments, including of Thai people.

While some say a change back is impossible, many see the days of the free weed numbered.
There is definitely the plan to relist the devils' lettuce as a narcotic.
People say shops are being raided and closing (as for now, the unlicensed ones ....)
The relisting as narcotic is said to be aimed at regulation; licenses and medical marijuana patients are said to have nothing to worry about.
However, it is clear that relisting AND possible legal consequences for possession are in discussion.

Lets see how it will turn out ...

[phuketrichard]

As i have said for awhile, recreational weed will be gone, unregistered business's gone
Many of the shops were smart and set up a room an have a Dr on call or even on site to write a script ( why do you desire/need weed? Insomnia, back problem, anxiety issues) an those will remain> Prices will come down further<
I do question what they will do about the many many shops selling online thou

confirmed by this article>

BANGKOK: The Move Forward Party (MFP) assured registered marijuana growers and cannabis business operators yesterday (May 25) that they would be protected, even when the new government re-lists cannabis as a narcotic.

The main objective of the party’s plan to put cannabis back on the narcotics list under a ministerial regulation of the Ministry of Public Health is to allow all state officials, including police and the Office of Narcotics Control Board, to work fully to control the abuse of cannabis, said deputy MFP leader Sirikanya Tansakun.

Some new laws will be passed to control the use, production, growing, and import and export of cannabis, which is work left undone by the caretaker government, she said.

“I insist cannabis business operators and marijuana growers will also be protected and allowed to go about their business as usual as long as they have registered and have permission to do so. A proper announcement will be issued to ensure this,” she said.

At this point, business operators and marijuana growers who have registered properly with the government shouldn’t be worried, she said.

Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of a civic group calling itself the Network Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future, on the same posted on Facebook an open letter intended for MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat.

https://www.thephuketnews.com/mfp-to-sh ... -88274.php

[Alex]

It would be sensible to have some sanity restored. I'm in favor of legalizing ALL DRUGS and have always been, but I would never allow druggies to get in your face like this. If only to protect children, peddling recreational drugs should be a somewhat discreet business instead of being advertised and carried out in the open all over the place.

[KunKhmerSR]

Ah yes the age old argument of protecting the children by closing down regulated shops that only sell to adults and instead giving it back to unregulated black market dealers who dont care if you're 14 or 34 as long as you got the chash with you

[Ryan754326]

It would be sensible to have some sanity restored. I'm in favor of legalizing ALL DRUGS and have always been, but I would never allow druggies to get in your face like this. If only to protect children, peddling recreational drugs should be a somewhat discreet business instead of being advertised and carried out in the open all over the place.

Potheads aren’t getting in anyone’s face, and there are worse things already being carried out in the open, than a bunch of shops selling weed. They are no more of menace to society than any liquor store, or even a 7-11 selling cigarettes.

I don’t know anything about Thai politics, but I suspect the real purpose of these changes is to restrict competition, and put control of this thriving market into the hands of a few big players.
Weed shops aren’t going to go away, but the smaller sellers, who don’t have the cash or connections to get approval, will be driven out of the business.

[johnoconnor]

From what i understood of the law was to put in some regulations like we have here in Canada.. Not to reverse the legal Cannnabis Market,,
But i could be wrong,,,

[Anchor Moy]

So what was the point of the whole thing ?
No point really ?