How Thailand's lucrative cannabis industry is under threat - BBC World Service Documentaries

Thailand became the first country in Asia to legalise the recreational use of cannabis in 2022. It is now set to make a U-turn and restrict cannabis to medical use only.
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The government decision comes after a survey suggested that the recreational use of cannabis among minors under the age of 20 had risen 10 times since decriminalisation.
00:00 Intro: Cannabis industry in Thailand
00:02 Thailand cannabis background
03:20 The government plan to ban recreational cannabis
05:38 Will cannabis shops survive?
07:42 Cannabis vacuum in Thailand
To watch more investigative journalism from our award-winning teams check out this documentary playlist, perfect for the biggest screen in your home 👉🏽 • All BBC World Service ...
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[@wm3138]

Far less harmful than alcohol.

[@jameswatters9592]

what a silly argument

[@oioi5794]

@@jameswatters9592it’s a fact not an argument old man

[@Pellkot]

Everyone says this every time there is any discussion about legalizing. Its not about the dangers to health the reasons are different.

[@TinSandwichUK]

@@jameswatters9592 He was stating a fact and your remark turned it into an argument. Ask anyone who works in a hospital A & E dept. how many patients are there due to alcohol intake, particularly Friday and Saturday nights and ask the same person how many are there through someone getting stoned. I could state other medical facts but first I'd like to hear your justification for putting wm3138's comment down by referring to it as a 'silly argument'.

[@jameswhitewater6127]

Research Canada and learn that the cannabis industry did nothing to increase the nation's health issues, in fact the opposite. The medical cannabis industry is booming with a world wide export market.

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

It is part of Thai culture and kitchen since thousends of years. The country should focus on its very big Meth problem

[@eric209]

On which planet do you live ? I'm Thai and cannabis has never been part of our culture, and NEVER EVER been used in Thai cuisine 😂😂😂😂. Your fantasies really took you somewhere you'll never come back from, kid.

[@ZaharaImole]

Oh wow meth is a big problem in Thai that's sad

[@breachperplex8846]

That will never happen they’ve tried that with hash heroin laws in the 2000s shit didn’t work prohabition in general doesn’t work.. it’s crazy how they have the strictest laws in the world but are to stupid to see the laws will never work drug use has increased in the county the more regulations they put and they have the purest heroin, meth, xtc and ketamine in Asia and the purest heroin and meth in the world.. if that doesn’t tell you Thailand has a problem that probation will never solve I don’t know what will.. they were saying when there was the death penalty for heroin trafficking there they litterally had a group of guys transporting hundreds of keys of heroin with help from Thailand law enforcement corruption. I’m not joking you they litterally work with the wa army sometimes… so if they couldn’t stop khun sa they will never stop any flow of drugs from entering the country… it’s a sham the government is doing this going back to the stone ages

[@kanedNunable]

we dont have a meth problem in UK btw

[@ntro9347]

@@kanedNunable sure 'bout that?

[@davidseek]

Cannabis should have exactly the same status as alcohol. Taxed and regulated, but widely available. It causes arguably much less harm…

[@msolja]

It heals an kills cancer that's why they don't want you using it is the cancer killer people still don't listen

[@paulg3012]

Then why should it be treated the same as a drug that kills 3 million people per year? Cannabis should be treated like spinach or mint. Now they seek to make it illegal again whilst cancer sticks which kill more than all hard drugs combined at 7 million per year will remain legal. Clown world.

[@alexn4255]

False. It smells bad. My neighbor smoked it everyday. Let’s just say my neighbor is no longer with us. He’s probably smoking in heaven tho 😂😂😂

[@realfacthunt]

That's where the government messed up, legalised but didn't tax.

[@JoeyBlogs007]

@@alexn4255 Very true. It's a losers drug

[@kahnjugaming]

I find it hard to support a legislation banning the recreational use of cannabis when alcohol is freely available.

[@arbusto]

One mistake doesn't justify another mistake.

[@dufud]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@arbustowho said it was a mistake. Both should be legal .

[@frederikxx-x-xx3179]

@@arbusto communist

[@kanedNunable]

@@arbusto we are adults. if alcohol is far worse whats the logic for allowing it and banning actual medicinal weed?

[@gclip9883]

@@arbusto It is not a mistake to regulate the use of a substance. The US already tried to ban alcohol in the 1920s and they failed miserably. Keeping a drug illegal doesn't stop the use, it merely shifts the use into a black market. And the black market is responsible for drugs with bad quality, dangerous cutting agents and a lots of violent crime. If we completely replace the black market with a legal market, the world would be a much better place.

[@changu1nu]

Also, another thing i want to point out is that the health minister said "by the end of febuary this law will be passed". It was rejected. Now hes saying "by the end of the year", which tells me that no law will be passed.

[@johnsmile434]

Hope so 🙏

[@jakespeed6515]

I know what Rick Simpson would say!

[@oioi5794]

No chance It’s Thailand specially when one of the best located shops in Bangkok is owned by a high ranking police officer among many other highly influential people involved in this business now please stop it🤣the bbc knows this creates views and clicks it’s absolute rubbish take it from someone involved not the bbc😂😂

[@THAIRISH_92]

@@oioi5794which shop is owned by police officer?

[@ryanwilliamson9578]

Money talks. They've been saying for as long as I can remember that foreigners may not be able to buy bud in Netherlands...still hasn't happened

[@garynoone672]

I think Thailand has a much bigger problem with yaba and should focus their resources on this, not cannabis.

[@ntro9347]

yaba is old news. it's nam keng / ice / shabu that is ruling the streets for many years now. Yaba is quite innocent in comparison.

[@DaroDuderino]

@@ntro9347 isnt yaba the same as shabu?

[@cornelisverhoef9282]

In Thailand there is always a way around things (I've lived and worked here for 22 years). This is how it will go in the end. Since medical use will remain legal all you need to do is go to a clinic where the doc will provide you with a letter ( for a fee )stating that you have such and such condition and you need access to cannabis. That's how it will go. Cannabis is an industry here worth billions. They're not gonna kill it. The Thai government is not THAT stupid.

[@joewalawender130]

But they will TAX away all your profits. And put it In their pockets. Remember that!

[@oioi5794]

I can tell you now all we need to do is have a pharmacist on site lawyer has already informed us of this

[@eric209]

That's not the point. You will not be able to smoke outside in public anymore, that's whole the point. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING BACK. What you do in your bedroom, NOBODY CARES.

[@sanookaus1334]

@@eric209You can’t smoke in public now, you can be fined although the police don’t really enforce it.

[@hakasonma8588]

Why do any of you support government or companies controlling bud? Like how do you profit? Cause you got high? Shit I got high since grade 2 in Canada and never went to jail for smoking.. now selling, underage to adults and kids... that is something else... but again teenager. But full grown adults paying for something you used change as a teen to smoke? All you guys smoke is sweet hybrids and terpene sprayed buds during growth to give you a terpene % on bad genetics 😂

[@theoverlord1925]

This makes the country look bad. First they approve it then a whole industry develops around it, people invest in it ; now they are thinking of scrapping it ? Look at what it has done for the Dutch economy through tourism …..Why would you scrap it ? Regulate it, tax it , enforce the rules in a strict manner , but don’t scrap it .

[@jamesr2622]

They're just putting marijuana back into the grey area to scare off foreigners from saturating the market. Locals operate better in grey area businesses than foreigners because foreigners are usually cautious to only invest in 100% legal businesses.

[@WhatsupPattaya]

They can't stop all the foreigners from coming in and growing it indoors and out performing them making money on their soil. It's grown out of control. They do this all the time people invest millions into it then they change their mind.

[@ntro9347]

In Holland it is not legal either. The status quo in the Netherlands really needs resolving.

[@1stAmerican]

Thailand is a kingdom, what the king says, goes.

[@robertgroves391]

@@1stAmericanno they have a parliament with upper and lower houses, the monarchy doesn’t get involved in making decisions regarding laws.

[@jamesr2622]

I got the skinny on what's going on. They're not actually outlawing marijuana again. Foreigners don't operate well in grey area businesses. They often don't invest unless something is 100% legal. Keeping marijuana in the grey area will keep the industry running in the hands of Thai people instead of foreigners.

[@spoonkiller7elie]

i actually like that theory and i dont mind thais making sure they profit from this

[@fubufb420]

That's true. Why let profits go to some foreign Ahole...😂 Wish the US would stop selling land to China!😂😂

[@lindabuck2777]

@@spoonkiller7elie👏👏👏I concur!!! I’m 68 now, when I was 15 I smoked Thai stick from my friends brother back from Vietnam. I was not that impressed honestly. I’d be interested to smoke it now! Dispensary’s here work fine, but we ALL deal with the feds hanging over our heads! Bah! Regulation will bring BILLIONS, but every country needs it!!! What-they allergic to money? It DOES take away one less control to get us by law enforcement-biggest money-making scam right?🙏🏻🤨🤷‍♀️

[@Mech.01]

As long as they can provide quality bud to us foreigners then all the power to them I wish them nothing but billions in profits 🙏

[@jamesr2622]

On top of that, people want to experience the resurrected Thai weed culture. If you wanted to go smoke Dutch coffee shop weed, you could just go to the Netherlands. I like the whole wooden bong thing.

[@GarsonProduction]

Part time living in Thailand with many friends, also having visited the farms and shops I can tell the people are not really keen on banning cannabis again. It's a booming industry that created a lot of new jobs and have had a net positive effect, especially amoungs tourists. A lot less rude drunks, a lot more relaxed chilled out stoners.

[@ZaharaImole]

So why are they saying they gone ban it

[@Expat_zillionaire]

i lived there aswell for a while and ive had plenty of situations where i was asked not to smoke it because somebody didnt like the smell.... Even in front of my own place, since a neighbour complained and the cops came by and asked me not to do so.... Many see it on the same level as yaba, which is a shame... very shortsighted some of em....

[@ZaharaImole]

@@Expat_zillionaire oh wow that's deep the police came to your house for smoking I don't think they even doing that in USA even the illegal states

[@robustanybody5138]

Yep politicians already are involved and why would they regulate their money

[@lindabuck2777]

@@ZaharaImole$$$ money money money greedy corrupt politicians and law.🤔🤨🤔🤨

[@lauranceemory4448]

Thai gov has a record of not thinking beyond the day after tomorrow & pot "I dunno what do you wanna do?" is a prime example. Make specific laws aimed to keep pot from kids... hard part is enforcement, as the police are more a concept than a reality here (been living in Thailand since 2001). Oregon legalized recreational pot in 2014 (my home state). Tax revenues up, no great damage to the state. The rich and military who run Thailand don't care about small business people, growers, etc. Heck, one of the ministers was busted for smuggling heroin into Australia (doesn't matter as not Thailand). Who makes the money on Thai side from meth created by junta in Myanmar..... follow the money

[@justlucky13]

And its cheap here in Oregon too !!!!

[@disorganizedorg]

What a giant step backwards.

[@tkilla1202]

Pushed via the big harma industry via corrupt people.

[@WolfHeathen]

Yeah, for drug addicts.

[@jakeh491]

​@@WolfHeathenso you don't drink alchol? Fair play

[@RobertCollins-fq5tw]

Thai government are simply doing it for the money.

[@xstorm_8_shadowx]

@@WolfHeathenYou compare Heroin to pot? You obviously know nothing about any of it so why voice such a stupid comment? 😂 You’re crazy…

[@deplorabled1695]

Please bear in mind. In Thailand, prostitution is also illegal... as is the trade in pharmaceuticals, yet a 5 minute walk down Sukhumvit from Nana to Asoke would lead you to believe it's actually compulsory.

[@nuyoricaninthailand3911]

555

[@Aslowfade]

I live in Thailand . There are too many important people with a lot of money in the Cannabis industry here for much to change . Most involved in the Government in some capacity . While they talk about closing it down by the end of the years every month sees new Weed shops and Clubs opening, these are not the 'mom & pop' small shacks but large 2 -3 story buildings high end and costing a good few million baht. If theses owner thought it would be made illegal in a few months they would spend their money elsewhere.

[@panzerfaust127]

ive been to thailand twice since the legallysation and both times it was just an incredible expirience

[@mystertom100]

I've been twice after and once before 😭

[@yoursubconscious]

let's us remember, that I am aware of to this day; no one has ever die smoking Mary J. Yet ppl. (many of them teens) are getting their stomach pumped out of alcohol as you read this because they drank too much; or dying from drinking way too much.

[@milascave2]

I was told that about 75 deaths a year have been attributed to MJ. Which, if true, is still very little compared to alcohol, tobacco, hard drugs, etc. But it is not completely harmless, smoke in and of itself is bad for you, and can trigger asma attacks and so forth.

[@junglie]

@@milascave2 I'd like to see the evidence of that before i belived a word of it.

[@jameswatters9592]

@@junglie but you happily believed @yoursubconcious without any eveidence

[@jakeh491]

​@@milascave2I think you mean 75 indirect deaths a year. As in from people getting high and doing something silly or the tobacco in the spliff causing the harm. Not enough evidence to prove or disprove the harms of cannabis smoke yet.

[@cuetTimmonz]

lung cancer. u forget that. smoke in the lungs? I hear people coughing, choking on this crap. any smoke is toxic. u don't hear people dying from smoking cigars! the odd one will inhale.. but not dying like cigarette smokers. and pot. its COMBINATION...people defend this drug..so much..i just don't get it? i dont want to smell this shit, in my personal space, on the street..or at the bus stop.

[@EllandRoar84]

I was in Thailand last month and the atmosphere was special. Friendly, welcoming and zero agro. Weed shops add to the wonderfully accommodating people and provide jobs and industry locally. It would be a crying shame if they were to pull the plug on cannabis. People should not be facing criminal charges over a bloody plant!

[@vinrusso821]

Opium poppy is a bloody plant too. As is the Coca plant.

[@graemethorne4540]

Cannabis is not the problem, alcohol and other drugs are.all easy for young people to obtain.

[@messono]

Cry more, junky!

[@cuetTimmonz]

if you.. they-( have to) smoke more than 4 joints a day. every day....to function? I think its a problem... just like cigarettes, food gambling... addiction is addiction.. don't make excuses. a drug is a drug, is a drug!!! etc...

[@dufud]

@@cuetTimmonz no one has to smoke cannabis to function. That’s not how is works . The people who mix it with tobacco. They end up with a tobacco addiction and need the nicotine to function. Cannabis is non addictive.

[@gamingtvhub6711]

@@cuetTimmonz Then you should ban sugar, thats the worst drugs in the history, so many health issues, and surely killing way more people.

[@Mike-iu6sz]

@@cuetTimmonzspot on

[@samabrahams7687]

Legalisation taxation and freedom to smoke is the way forward . Make it legal here in the uk .

[@FUCKgmp]

All Drugs are legal in our Corrupt country ! You just have to be a Government official or police officer to smoke weed and have a few lines of coke . It’s illegal if it’s me or you that’s caught with small bag of cannabis for personal use. Cannabis in the Uk is apparently a jail sentence if caught . After 20+ convictions of personal possession in 30 years 😂 I’ve never been to jail and took weed into court for a spliff on the way home .

[@slapdogpuppyspank8754]

Yeah, saves on the air fare..

[@mogwha]

I think the only way it'll work in the UK will be with private members clubs, people hate their neighbours smoking it or walking down the street. It'll be a behind closed doors thing and arrested if outdoors

[@robustanybody5138]

Are u sure?? Ur muslims overlords won't mind?

[@Jedi_Judo19]

It would be so dumb for the Thai authorities to do this. It's like chopping off your nose to spite your face. You have billions of dollars in this industry, and you're gonna just get rid of that? That's really dumb. Thousands of people depend on this industry for jobs and a livelihood. Also 2023 and 2022 had more tourists come to Thailand than ever before. You can't tell me all those extra tourists only came for temples and beaches? They came to smoke weed and enjoy their holiday in the most beautiful country on Earth. I love you Thailand and I love marijuana. Marijuana is good and physically non-addictive. Alcohol is far worse and causes way more deaths than weed ever has. I can't think of one person who has ever died from smoking weed, but tons of people that have had their lives ruined by alcoholism. Please keep weed legal and going strong in Thailand.

[@YeeLeeHaw]

"You can't tell me all those extra tourists only came for temples and beaches?" You forgot another "illegal" thing there that is attracting a lot of tourists :)

[@calamcouzens2090]

How many lives would they save if the world decided to ban alcohol

[@NemoNobody0]

None. Just look at what happened to countries that actually did prohibit alcohol: People start to make their own stuff and then wonder why they get blind and die… You don’t control a substance by banning it but by regulating it.

[@nothingevermatters..1109]

Indian lives?

[@calamcouzens2090]

@@NemoNobody0 yeah but people’s mothers and fathers wouldn’t be dieing from liver damage let the fools do that to them selfs 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@calamcouzens2090]

@@nothingevermatters..1109 all lives that would die from alcohol 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@NemoNobody0]

@@calamcouzens2090 those „fools“ are people’s mothers and fathers as well… it wasn’t just some addicted crazy folks who died by methanol poisoning during the prohibition, it was regular people… Drugs need to be regulated and people have to be informed about the associated risks. Every drug we make illegal will fuel criminal activity and make a new drug appear with even greater potential for damage. The war on drugs is lost and has cost the lives of millions of people. This chapter of history should not be repeated again.

[@JackSmith-gv5yw]

Typical Thailand, they half-arsed the legislation when they bought it in. Also Thailand was very anti-drug not that long ago, now you can buy weed on every street corner....crazy.

[@scambodia147]

Money number,hard core pot fans need not worry.

[@ThompterSHunson]

thousands of producers, tens of thousands of dispensaries, and millions of visitors already visiting Thailand, I'm curious to see how they'll put this genie back into the bottle.

[@pepelemoko01]

So go though immigration , and customs , change your money,get your Thai SIM card,next visit a Thai Doctor's airport clinic get medical a marijuana medical certificate ,then BTS to Sukumvit hotel.

[@Kwippy]

The overwhelming majority of Thai people disapprove of recreational cannabis use, and will approve of the ban. People also do not want to feel that Thailand will do absolutely anything just to make money.

[@cloudzack1090]

Imagine caring about consuming/smoking a plant. Literally bothers no one except the people who are sensitive towards it. If you dont like it, dont use it. Pretty simple

[@sangyedorje3564]

The anything for money boat sailed decades ago.

[@realfacthunt]

Utter bs, lived here for 20+ years with hundreds of thai friends and nobody cares enough to ban it, they are happy for their countrymen to be able to make a living from it. It employs hundreds of thousands of people. Only small minded 'govern me more' people would want it banned now.

[@Aslowfade]

I agree, sadly the Thai government as always didn't bother to ask the population what they thought about this massive change to the country.

[@bnarit]

Not so sure about that, according to the election. There might be just a fews.

[@ebargados4321]

who pays $30 USD per gram? And 30K USD per kilo is a bit of a stretch.

[@ralfzacherl9942]

It's 30$ per gram in the tourist shops with imported stuff. In every non touristic area it's more like 20-50ct per gram for random bush weed or the classic Thai style sticks where they wrap the weed with a string around a stick.

[@Expat_zillionaire]

@@ralfzacherl9942 good indoor you can get for around 300baht per gram in most places, 30 dollars i would never pay...

[@CaptainTodger69]

@@ralfzacherl9942 the import is usually cheaper than the local good stuff. and 30 is only in the super touristy places that are there to rip off tourists. can get good stuff for 10 easy enough

[@gertfourie3283]

Moonrock?

[@jadefinding]

Follow the money, who benefits from regulation?

[@tractordamage5272]

Police mainly. Another revenue source for bribes. They need to be paid more to avoid the corrupt culture. They get a tiny salary, and they have to buy their own bikes, guns, etc.

[@zappas10]

The police. They will be extorting the tourists and the ex-pats as they did before.

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

very smart young student the government of course

[@caveyful]

If alcohol was introduced I bet there would be the same 10 fold increase in teenage use, if not more, and just maybe they are drinking less alcohol, which is upsetting the alcohol companies.

[@eric209]

You're making zero sense.

[@dufud]

@@eric209he makes perfect sense.

[@bnarit]

It's too sleepy. In the first month of the legalization, many craft beer done that. I can assure you that, it was good for relax and sleeping.

[@CaptainTodger69]

actually makes more sense than you probably think. thailand is essentially an oligarchy. and a handful of super-powerful families control all the big business. up until very recently, micro-breweries were illegal in Thailand because a few of the powerful families owned all the beer companies and used their influence to keep the laws in their favour. maybe the same kind of people are not very happy that they aren't getting their cut from the weed too

[@eric209]

@denkanator You did not understand what I meant at all. I've been living in Thailand for a WHILE. Thais drink alcohol like you drink water (if you drink water, lol), and ABSOLUTELY NOTHING will replace alcohol in their existence, N O T H I N G. Thais who now smoke weed, drink as much if not more. That's what I meant when I said the guy was making zero sense, cause he knows nothing about the country, its people, and culture, OBVIOUSLY. And YOU make way less sense than you think, either. The same families you mentioned are those who invested massively in the weed business, actually. And they can afford to move on if the Eldorado closes its doors tomorrow ...

[@martinbakunawa1240]

Question is, why do you need to regulate Cannabis when Alcohol and Tobacco are running rampant and free? It always boils down who gets to control the flow of money, wins. So the government is getting greedy? sad to hear such news since a lot of foreigners want to invest in their country.

[@ntro9347]

a fool and his money are easily parted

[@milascave2]

Thailand may be the only place in Asia that has MJ dispensaries. But Cambodia sells MJ Pizza and soup. And in North Korea, of all places, it is completely legal.

[@CaptainTodger69]

vietnam has cannabis bars, too. where you can just go in and buy it over the counter. it's not legal. but they just pay off the local police and operate with immunity

[@supportadmin7735]

No all they are going to do is make you get a doctor certificate and use it in private. They dont want public cannabis shops everywhere is all it really is.

[@jakeh491]

But it's okay to serve alchol everywhere? Sounds a bit odd to me

[@sanookaus1334]

@avusookay6743 What has people under 15 got to do with it, the legal age for alcohol is 20 years old. Gan-cha is also traditional, wether smoked or more often made into tea.

[@MaroonedInDub]

If these profits are true and correct then Thailand will not ban it. Trust me on this.

[@johngammon963]

Basically, it's about money and control. They see the market, and they want a piece of the pie.

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

100 percent

[@nicholas8997]

Legalizing cannabis was such a hit to organised crime in Bangkok.... How can they let all this come back !!

[@dualmandalasinsynchronicit131]

Because organized crime is runnin' shit!

[@jameswatters9592]

organised crime just moved into legalized cannabis production so dumbass whats the difference

[@gareth449]

who do you think are growing and selling it now , its not the normal guy on the street

[@dualmandalasinsynchronicit131]

Thailand, did a rug pull. They brought in investors, and sucked capital out of the cannabis sector, where those who invested early in The Thai, emerging market, expected parabolic gains on their investmen

[@carlnorrdell2447]

Goodluck if they ban recreational use, the underground would be too much for them to handle all over again.

[@nomadicsoul34]

My blood boils when the suited cronies say its harmful as a justification for banning it. Everything is harmful to a degree . Sugar , palm oil etc . sex , gambling or driving all carry risk . Cannabis is very very safe compared to nicotine and alcohol. Its just ignorance combined with corruption.

[@Expat_zillionaire]

its all about money... not safety...

[@supportadmin7735]

Lol nobody actually pays 30 per gram thats a joke

[@sasproductions701]

u haven't heard of cali packs? 3.5 for £40,£50 even £60 for 3.5 so u must be a virgin at smoking.

[@lanthanumkhloride8538]

you'd be surprised, dispensaries in Bangkok's tourist districts charge up to 900 baht per gram. Elsewhere 100-300 baht per gram is typical.

[@CaptainTodger69]

@@sasproductions701 3.5 for 60 is less than 30 a gram.

[@sasproductions701]

@@CaptainTodger69 i feel stupid i read it wrong lol maybe im the virgin at smoking haha its fake cali packs trust me, the weed smells nice and looks nice and proper cut and budded but yeah i cant afford cali packs all the time so i just get my usual stardawg for £25 for 3.5

[@knobrotknobrot]

​@@sasproductions701that's not 1 gram is it clever boy

[@intranix]

no chance it'll be restricted. The industry is huge and already ingrained. Tourism also depends on it already, many many are coming to Thailand because it's legal. The threat of canabis is to the alcohol industry which is mafia-like controlled in Thailand.

[@traderlondon]

Vaping is illegal in Thailand, but recreational use of cannabis is legal. WTF

[@bth291106]

Well makes sense as vaping is terrible for you. And cannabis is nowhere near as bad.

[@Vikis420]

​@@bth291106 XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Take your meds freak

[@boblob-law9401]

It brings in 1.2 billion dollars of revenue, and increasing. Why would they even consider getting rid of it? That's not even including the boost in tourism, especially from Asian counties.

[@YeeLeeHaw]

This is why you don't let people that have no economic background make up the rules for the market. They could've just sat down with the growers and shop owners and discussed how to deal with some of the issues, but they didn't; they sit in their little bubbles instead and ditch out orders just so they can say they're doing so something, and as long as it doesn't affect them directly everything is game.

[@demiljim306]

Weed in Thailand (compared to the US) is way overpriced. Dispensaries on every corner and I never see them very busy.

[@gertfourie3283]

All over SEA, indoor, staff, electricity, growing with care day by day. Its an art. You gonna go to your own country and bring it back as an expatriate? 😂

[@blindmown]

Those are just the tourist traps dude. Everyone with a brain buys it online. I buy it from a farm in the north and I pay 50-100 THB a gram (~$2) for their exotic strains.

[@deckling823]

It's disgusting to see the face of the minister happily when he is saying all the restrictions.

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

he is baked as

[@robustanybody5138]

Boohoo

[@AlfredHimmelweiss]

i am living in Bangkok for three years and it is not true that you can find a weed shop on every corner in Bangkok. The last two days i was walking in Sathorn each day for 4 hours and i have not seen one weed shop. In the tourist area i can find one on every corner.

[@Mike-iu6sz]

Go to Pattaya they are everywhere

[@AlfredHimmelweiss]

@@Mike-iu6sz i guess the same everywhere like in the video. "Everywhere in Bangkok." i have seen them growing in tourist areas. i guess this is what you mean with everywhere.

[@thitithanachaipornsakun1978]

I think the way cannabis legalization in Thailand was executed exceptionally poor. None of these folks really went outside of Thailand to see how it is executed in Europe (Amsterdam) or the US (Colorado). Going into a Cannabis shop in Thailand does not require any sort of ID checking (to verify if you are 18 or 21+), or even barrier to cover the plants and products. Colorado for instance, have very strict ID checking and barrier to enter the cannabis shop. Ofcourse now the Thai government is concerned about banning it again, because they are seeing rise to more minors using it. There is absolutely no barrier of entry and ID checking at all from the get go. If the ID checking and barrier of entry is implemented earlier, I am sure Thai Cannabis industry won't face this hurdle. Too bad, so sad... for not doing a great job in researching on proper ways to distribute cannabis to the masses.

[@YeeLeeHaw]

What barrier are you referring to?

[@Nautilus1972]

No one is paying $30 a gram.

[@loveulez]

The choochoo average price 300 highest 450. One strain is 700 but that’s thca dusted.

[@alxs2666]

Last November in Pattaya i saw ”35% thc” medium looking bud at 1200 baht/g in one place

[@WhatsupPattaya]

exactly I was paying 900 baht for the top shelf on Beats Load YO!@@alxs2666

[@bennybennyson1079]

and you believe that its 35%???@@alxs2666

[@soroy2]

you can get skuns for 80 baht/g or less in Bangkok

[@alanh8212]

Bottom line: Can tourists still access weed?

[@sanookaus1334]

In Bangkok some shops will deliver it in 30 min to your door. Just like ordering food.

[@bnarit]

Yes

[@albertb5863]

@@sanookaus1334through grab or apps or how do you access it for delivery ?

[@bkknoodles68]

The Thais (among others) call it a gateway drug. Alcohol is a far greater one. Alcohol is a proven gateway to reckless driving, to domestic abuse, to promiscuous behaviour etc. All drugs, especially those taken recreationally, should be evaluated equally.

[@Expat_zillionaire]

entirely true, but as long as the right people make the right amounts of it, it wont change...

[@markgerick3063]

The wonderful and effective self-medicating use of the many varieties of Cannabis should never be under threat by anything.

[@cheebacheeobusiness3893]

Heading toward Monopoly and oligopoly 😂

[@Dalla_Dog]

They already let the genie out the bottle, yhe tax revenue it brings for the government is insane, its not stopping.

[@stefvanbust552]

The real problem of legal cannabis is poeople drvining high.Traffic in Thailand is already dangerous and many people drive drunk.

[@90vit]

Appreciate the subtitles for the narrator.

[@aerialcombat]

the only reason i was going to go to Thailand was that they seemed to be relaxing their harsh drug law involving cannabis and had legalized cannabis for recreational use. i feel for the weed businesses that are going to be affected by this, sorry you're laws are going backwards.

[@DaroDuderino]

Is there any time scedule when they have to close?

[@hearmenow909]

They will have people on site that will sign off the paperwork so people can buy it for 'medicinal use'. Nothing will change, just an extra process and that extra process will generate more revenue for their economy. Once you have the paper work to allow you to purchase for medicinal use, that permit will last for a set amount of time. So if you're on holiday, you go to the dispensary, get your permit within a few mins and you're then covered for the duration of your trip.

[@YeeLeeHaw]

Extra steps like that will chase away a lot of customers. When you operate a business, every single inconvenience is a lost customer among X amount of customers. The question is how many you will lose. If I were a shop owner or a producer I would still be very worried even if what you're saying would happen.

[@matolabrown6832]

I’m sorry for all those who went to Thailand to invest in cannabis I know people from Canada, who left their home and everything and go to Thailand to invest

[@yorkshirepitbikeclub926]

Follow the money 💰 🤑 💸

[@w.urlitzer1869]

som na, na.

[@dmtboke]

It's Business as usual here.. Nothing will change other than some Labcoats and better testing/regulation.

[@ntro9347]

if they had bothered to do one second of research they would know that Thailand is hostile to foreign business and you would find that they like to backflips on each and every of their decisions. Som nom na indeed.

[@YeeLeeHaw]

​@@dmtboke If the majority of customers can't buy your product, that's a big problem. What you're saying does not make any sense politically or economically.

[@SmokeTemple]

Did pharmaceutical sales go down after cannabis legalization?

[@joetoday7273]

Almost all the cannabis shops in Bangkok and in the provinces are often times only have one or two customers at a given time. Intervals also is about an average of one to one and half hour before another customer come inside. This was only an observation we did in one of the shop in Phuket. I believe legalizing cannabis in Thailand is a good business and it has not been abused by locals and tourists. It should treated the same as alcohol. Classifying cannabis for medicinal purpose has its negative effect on the business. I think the government should look into the cannabis related crimes before reclassifying. So far I haven't heard of cannabis related crimes or is there? If yes somebody has knowledge on this, kindly share.

[@hatsadin97]

My uncle who is in the military is against weed but the guy is also a heavy drinker...Like sometimes I can't believe he's my family

[@Jonathan-tj4lt]

Meanwhile in Germany… “let’s legalize weed for everyone!”

[@Tropical_Frank]

The reason why is simple.... The Thai justice system makes alot of money from locking up drunk tourists and expats. Also because of the legalisation of weed; people are drinking less Singha (national beer) and people are generally happier. That is not what they want. They want their chaos back. F Thailand.... how can you go back from this progress? I am so disappointed.

[@petrsvancara8785]

This!

[@wcfields4469]

Exactly. I said that years ago. The more weed we smoke the less we drink the less trouble we get into

[@petrsvancara8785]

@@wcfields4469 I dont drink at all. And I dont smoke casual cigarettes, only the weed. I live healthy life.

[@pathomthavaradhara]

Well, Thailand outlawed “ prostitution “ years ago, but in reality there is prostitution everywhere esp., “ tourist attraction towns “. Simply put it this way “ it’s the same thing with cannabis “ money talks .

[@420skidrow]

if they reverse, i wont visit thailand for vacation

[@JC-lu4se]

You won't be missed somehow.

[@MrEye4get]

No mention of the considerably more harmful use of tobacco or alcohol. Oh, but wait, the government owns and taxes those, right?

[@loveulez]

That 45 million a month figure is tabloid embarrassing garbage. A gram at choochoo hemp in central Bangkok costs average 300 baht, plenty strains at 200 or less. Highest pure weed strain is 450.

[@blindmown]

I love that place. The edible shop downstairs is awesome too.

[@georgeschmid2624]

If cannabis is for medical allowed, why is it not allowed for privat consumption? And if cannabis is a drug and should be forbidden, why is alcohol not forbidden? Come on, I think the main reason could be, that the cannabis market earns huge profit and grown up bigger and stronger and probably, anyone don't want that and has fear.

[@ludvikdurana6048]

Anybody knows if they allow vistors for tours ?

[@Toastiiiiiiiiiiiiii]

"They should prioritize regulating alcohol. It's more dangerous. Alcohol might be necessary for medical purposes, such as when someone is heartbroken or dealing with loneliness

[@thastayapongsak4422]

Nothing will change dramatically. Fact is every party is for legalizing weed in some form. When the bill passed most party voted for. It is just that the follow up regulations never got passed, and weed essentially became just another vegetables, along with Kratom. If the current government will change anything, it most likely would only involve regulations similar to tobacco and alcohol, maybe even less restrictive.

[@changu1nu]

Also, one more thing. Personal use of amphetamines are decriminalised. If this whole thing was about the interest of public health, the fight wouldnt be against weed.

[@KK-lg8uz]

what, can you explain? Ive never heard that before. They decriminalised amphetamines?? When?

[@cornelisverhoef9282]

@@KK-lg8uz you can have up to 5 ya ba pills ( meth) on you without any legal consequences in this country. But the government goes after weed. Go figure.

[@gsomethingsomething2658]

_"Personal use of amphetamines are decriminalised."_ - Are you saying that is the case already in Thailand?

[@KK-lg8uz]

im pretty sure he's making that up was just interested in what he was on about@@gsomethingsomething2658

[@luceinbattaglia9425]

Is not decriminalized. Up to 5 pills it’s personal use but you face jail punishment anyway !

[@michaelgothenburg364]

28% THC is readily available for children as young as 12 in Thailand. Line is the most common platform used. Impossible to control. My daughter showed me how easy it is to get. Just order and pay or cash on delivery even in some places. Close down one place and they open up a few days later under another name. A Thai neurologist I know says that juvenile problems in his medical area has skyrocketed since Cannabis was made legal.

[@jam202]

Don't worry they aint banning shit, everyone is making too much money.

[@user-ql8pg9me2r]

terible to stop it helps with illnesses

[@michaellanoue9156]

Sad. It’s just a prohibition on the freedom of choosing one’s choice: cannabis and/or liquor. why is cannabis worse than alcohol?

[@GugaBahr.]

For a moment I got worried. But now I understand. The government just wants its share.

[@donalain69]

I did not see many problems caused by the canabis legalisation in Thailand. And i don't think it increased the number lof consumers a lot. those who like to smoke it now just do it more publicly. But as long as it does not harm anyone... why ban it again?

[@soupadoopafly]

How do you have reliable statistics to compare too with under 20 year olds from a time where it was illegal?

[@wizewizard1840]

Properly legalize it instead of banning it again!

[@carlislebailey8902]

Sad news for Thai people 😢 massive economic losses Thailand cannot afford

[@AjarnSpencer]

The doctors here will make lots of money writing prescriptions for everybody. And Thailand they’ll write you a prescription for anything you just tell them what you want them to write and pay them and they give you it. This is Thailand remember?

[@NatashaLawes-xg3uk]

U.S again😒 like a robber waiting to pounce.

[@billg7531]

Why don't you do your job as a journalist and get your facts right? Recreational Cannabis was never legalized in Thailand. It was decriminalized from the list of narcotics. Recreational cannabis has always been illegal. What happened was in the decriminalization pronouncements by various department heads in Thailand that made statements that were taken out of context, or just incorrect. As the government was dealing with other more important issues, such as post-Covid comeback, and elections, this issue got placed on the back burner. Now, the government has brought it to the front burner again and heating up the issue. As with most of the things in Thailand, one must just sit and wait to see what the final verdict will be. They claim to have answers by the end of the year. Keep in mind, Thailand is tossing out the entire Senate due to agreements in their Constitution, and major elections will be taking place to fill those seats. Perhaps they are waiting to see what comes from those elections as to what policies they will be making.

[@tractordamage5272]

Well it's the BBC. They abandoned real independent journalism years ago. I've seen only one accurate well-investigated article in years. And that was in the football section lol.

[@eric209]

Agreed. Words have no meanings anymore and they (not just journalists) now use them in salads only, which makes sense cause saying something is not their intention (anymore), where making noise and (or) selling an idea/narrative are (until the next ones). Thai people have a way different mindset. They made a mistake and got scared. They will send the monster back in his closet like it never happened.

[@user-uo3ce3xv4o]

Привет из Сибири!!!!! Всём добра и любви к Богу!!!!!! Курите братья!!!! Андрон

[@nothingevermatters..1109]

Every time I want to do meditation I’ll go to Thailand

[@yorkshirepitbikeclub926]

Legalise and regulate in the uk as a medical patient it is way too expensive compared to the streets and the quality is rubbish compared to street other than 2 or 3 strains from canada

[@junglie]

They bring it in from anywhere but here too, i've seen legal medical weed from israel of all places .

[@andifucka7117]

You need the right strains. There are nice strains for about 8 Euro a Gramm for medical use

[@junglie]

@@andifucka7117 Got them ,been breeding them for 40 odd years......Cost f'k all a gram.

[@yorkshirepitbikeclub926]

@andifucka7117 yeahh ice just got a nice German one orange cake

[@robustanybody5138]

Ur muslims overlords won't like it

[@paganaruemonlino2223]

All they are going to achieve is an underground traffic...

[@gutz323]

You would think creating over a billion dollars yearly revenue for Thailand, and that number being increased all the time, you would think they would want to keep the laws similar to what they are now. Surely tourists smoking weed, create far less problems than tourists drinking alcohol? I bet the the cannabis tourist industry has created some wealthy Thai entrepreneurs, as well as the tax revenue for the Thai government. They would be crazy to get rid off it.

[@eric209]

Cause you've ever seen weed smokers not being alcohol drinkers too ? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Yeah, so Thai people replaced alcohol with weed ? That's your story ? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Thai people drink alcohol like YOU drink water (if you drink water, lol). So now, they just can smoke weed like you drink water. Let that marinade for a minute in your brain.

[@jamesmckeon9139]

You can walk into off brand pharmacies and buy whatever, why would the weed stores be different if it is just medical use?

[@ZebbMassiv]

Thats a cute tiny farm. Love from Canada 🇨🇦 ❤️

[@julianshepherd2038]

That's a cute version of the sun you've got there.

[@elestromusicgamesfun1101]

Just got back from Phuket. Omg. Everyone was blazing. If they make it illegal again they will lose revenue like crazy.

[@Expat_zillionaire]

not really, thais are not fond of paying taxes.... which is where the problem lies...

[@prempavee]

This is not correct. Now if they want to change they have to prove that is harmful and they cannot. Ganja will stay free for the benefit of all human beings

[@user-nn4wj8gk9s]

Let’s openly talk about meth in Thailand.more weed less meth.

[@lolitapitpong3826]

Yeah do people realise half those night tuk tuk drivers and motobike taxi drivers are sneaking off for little toots on the pipe to keep them going?

[@lolitapitpong3826]

Yeah do people realise half those night tuk tuk drivers and motobike taxi drivers are sneaking off for little toots on the pipe to keep them going?

[@nicgrobler8969]

But why people smoking it in public places and on beaches. Not good for people who visiting Thailand

[@andifucka7117]

Why not? Where do the people smoke the cigarrettes

[@joellarsson9486]

How boring can you be?

[@lanthanumkhloride8538]

it's illegal to smoke in a hotel room, and not every hotel has a balcony

[@kosmique]

avusookay6743 i hate you not smoking. you could be nice and send some aroma my way. so, now what !?

[@KimchiSpringRoll]

One thing is for sure, after they've grown many batches of cannabis in those fields the soil is gonna be much cleaner for future crops for food or material production.

[@vincentmcgarry3598]

That was a short lived.Probably jeleous of how popular and how much money was being made.

[@neilgillespie4498]

Why the u turn? What problems have they had ? How many people have died from it ?? How many deaths / violent incidents caused by alcohol in the same time? Why not ban alcohol as well! It doesn’t make any sense

[@sanookaus1334]

The newly elected government party ran on reversing the classification of pot back to a narcotic, after getting elected they have to appear to be working on a new bill.

[@Nocturnaltribe]

One word. Money

[@bnarit]

It's complicated. If it is freely legal, no officer need to be bribed. But, if they are in gray area, then the money will flow.

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

makes perfect sense its about cash cash

[@MrProzacmilkshake]

@avusookay6743 they smoke meth its 2024. the goverment don't care they just want to tax it more

[@wm3138]

Because some people want prohibition to return so they can get the payoff’s that come with illegal substances.

[@mongolshonny6633]

+ as a adult smoke aside your home is sad and childish

[@luceinbattaglia9425]

True but not the same case if you’re in holiday..

[@robertgroves391]

It was never legalized for recreational use at all, it was only supposed to be for medical and culinary purposes only, but the law worded was quite ambiguous to say the least, this is where people took advantage of the loophole. The Government is just looking to close the loophole that is all.

[@MaroonedInDub]

Kanchanaburi is the place of "The bridge over the River Kwai". Everything you see in this video, I live for it.

[@Dave-hk3pv]

still blows my mind that i cant bring my vape with me and cannabis is all over Thailand, i will be fined if i bring my vape with me however i can still buy it from the vendors there and use it no issues? the only 2 laws about a joint is i cant smoke it indoor and if people complained about me smoking a police will come and ask me to stop... fantastic logic.