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Life


THAILAND IS THREATENING STRICTER CANNABIS LAWS. WEED SHOPS ARE CONFUSED


The first country in Asia to decriminalize weed might roll back its drug policy
after just one year.
JR
by Jack Ramage
JR
photos by Jack Ramage
November 15, 2023, 11:45pm
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Photo: Jack Ramage

A radiant symbol has recently emerged among the bright neon signs lining
Bangkok's streets: the weed leaf. After legalizing medical cannabis in 2018,
last year Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize weed.
Today, people over 20 who are not pregnant or breastfeeding can consume it
without punishment, although smoking in public spaces can still land you a hefty
fine. That’s led to a boom in cannabis shops across the country. And with a
dispensary practically now on every street corner, that neon green glow—and the
subtle aroma of weed—has quickly woven its way into the city’s colorful
tapestry. 

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But after just a year, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says he will be clamping
down again on cannabis use in Thailand, with plans to limit its use to medical
purposes within the next six months. But with over 4,500 dispensaries already
established across the country – many of which are small, local businesses – how
will this impact the people of Thailand? 

Chosee at The Dispensary

Chosee is a bartender at The Dispensary, a cannabis shop in the bustling heart
of Bangkok’s Phron Phrong district where eight plants thrive in the storefront
window while pedestrians pass by. Like other sellers, Chosee says he’s concerned
that Thailand's tourism industry will take a hit—“around 90 percent” of his
customer base is tourists. “We've seen a high influx of customers, especially
during the peak seasons," he adds.

Life


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“It’s definitely helped tourism, bringing in so many people,” says Ethan, who
works at the neighboring shop, Shaggy’s Bud’s. “We see a lot of tourists here,
especially from across Asia—a lot of people from Japan or the Philippines. I
believe they wouldn't come here as much if it weren’t for the relaxed weed
policy. They already have the beaches. They have the food.”

The finer details of the Prime Minister's coming rollback in cannabis policy are
yet to be announced. One possibility is that people would have to consult a
medical professional before purchasing the flower. If that’s the case, says
Mendel Menachem, a writer for the cannabis publication High Thailand, it might
not actually impact tourists very much. “From a tourist’s point of view, I don’t
think they’ll notice more difficulty,” he says optimistically. “The Thai
authorities don’t want to shut the door on tourism.”

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Kitty at Chopaka Shop

Until there’s clarity, though, many sellers are unsure how the rollback might
impact their livelihood. “How are they going to do that?” Kitty Chopaka, a
cannabis activist and owner of Chopaka Shop, a dispensary situated in Asok,
Bangkok, replies when asked whether she thinks the rules will be reversed. “I
have a license. I have paid my fees. We don’t sell cannabis in this shop for
recreation—we sell it as is. I’ve followed the rules to the T. I don’t see how
it’s possible to enforce [a U-turn].”

Others worry how tighter regulations might benefit foreign investors—to the
detriment of local growers who’ve so far been able to set up shop with little
red tape. “I see amazing growers coming in from across the world, relocating
here for business, but what's the spillover effect and the consequences of
that?" says Note Nadon, from TEERA, a company that focuses on technologies and
operations in South East Asia’s cannabis supply chain. Kitty describes it as
“almost like colonization all over again.” She says, “People who are not
traditional growers are coming into the space where we are traditional growers,
trying to control how we do our cannabis, without looking at the ability and the
consumers within our space.”

News


‘THE TRUTH WILL BE LOUD’: THAILAND’S FORMER BROTHEL BARON IS USING HIS INFAMY TO
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Gavin Butler, Caleb Quinley
05.04.23


That’s not to say there isn’t room for improvement, particularly around
over-saturation and quality control. “If you go to dispensaries in Canada or
Amsterdam, all of their weed is tested. But in Thailand, none of that is
required at the moment,” Nadon says. “The industry is so free, anyone can grow
on the first floor and sell on the second floor – where is the duty of care for
selling to customers?” Still, determining what counts as safe and unsafe,
certified and uncertified, is another can of worms entirely. He expects that the
current Health Minister will take a “more pragmatic approach” to regulation, but
says it’s a task he “wouldn't envy anyone doing.”

Today, the cannabis space in Thailand at the moment is at a somewhat of a
crossroads. “Corruption and nepotism are still big problems here,” Kitty says.
“There’s still a lack of knowledge on the cannabis industry as a whole—not just
in Thailand. It always goes back to the people. When you forget about the
people, and they’re just a number, you end up with a legalization rollout like
the United States which is… really screwy.”

For now, sellers are happy that decriminalization has handed control of the
market to the local Thai people. The tourism business may be new, but cannabis
has always existed here. “We’re moving something that was controlled by gangs
and criminals, towards something that can can pay taxes and contribute to
society,” Kitty concludes. 

Tagged:MARIJUANACannabisWeedThailanddispensariesdrug policy



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