Thailand decriminalizes marijuana, but smoking discouraged

The Thai cops won't be happy. They can no longer roust foreign potheads for money.....

Great news!

Actually misread. Recreational use still not allowed. Just allowing local bigwigs to grow and sell wholesale.....

Good job, Thailand!

Brilliant! That's definitely one way to bump up tourism.

Every GI in 'Nam knew the Thai stuff was the best.

Sven AsaiToday  05:43 pm JST

There has never been any dam in that whole area, the Golden triangle is infamous, a synonym for Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos altogether.

The Golden Triangle refers to the cultivation and trade of opium/heroin not marijuana.

BlacklabelToday  07:56 pm JST

sell it dont smoke it. dont get high on your own supply, seems to be the message.

Seems they want to export the problems associated with drug abuse while getting paid to be part of the problem of addiction.

Huh? Did you actually read the article?

"So far, it appears there would be no effort to police what people can grow and smoke at home, aside from registering to do so, and declaring it is for medical purposes. Thailand’s government has said it is promoting cannabis for medical use only, warning those eager to light up for fun that smoking in public could still considered to be a nuisance, subject to a potential 3-month sentence and 25,000 Thai baht ($780) fine. But he added, “We will have additional Ministry of Health Notifications, by the Department of Health. If it causes nuisances, we can use that law (to stop people from smoking)." He said the government prefers to “build an awareness” that would be better than patrolling to check on people and using the law to punish them."

Considering how severe the sentences were before, it's basically saying be discreet about smoking it or else deal with a 3 month sentence or pay a fine. Better than being thrown in the slammer for years.

And Marijuana isn't addictive so your brilliant theory goes up in smoke literally.

Decriminalization is the first step to legalizing it.

Common Japan, join the 21st century.

Yes, marijuana use is a societal harm. There’s a reason they call it “dope.” It makes people dopey.

Outdated thinking. I've been in Canada the past few months. It's legal here. People of all levels of society smoke it, lawyers, police, judges etc. Unfortunately, you were doped... er duped... into the brainwashing that has been pushed as part of the war on drugs, one of the most effective propaganda campaigns ever, though a failure insofar as results are concerned.

The AvengerToday  02:47 pm JST

Every GI in 'Nam knew the Thai stuff was the best.

That was in the 60's & 70's. Now hydroponically grown stuff in the US and Canada is far better. They can even grow Thai stick.

This is a landmark decision; the first Asian country to decriminalize marijuana. Hopefully, others in the region including Japan will follow suit.

Visited my BIL recently in San Francisco, and while I was waiting for him in front of a train station, I lit up a doobie. When he showed, he cautioned me, "Dude - it's legal, but don't smoke it in the middle of the street."

Marijuana can be chemically addictive according to the latest science, but only for people using extreme levels. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2797098/

Also, teens over using cannabis have been medically proven to stunt brain development which impacts the rest of their lives. Adults have been shown to reduce brain activity, but after a few weeks of not using cannabis, their brains return to normal.

Marijuana can become psychologically addictive for some people too, probably for people with other issues.

Smoking 4 spliffs a week isn't going to make anyone addicted and will help out the potato chip makers greatly.

Once again, 60 Minutes (a US TV News show) got marijuana scientist to discuss these issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ipEU8eGnh8 (just 4 minutes)

Newborn babies get THC through their mothers. Placenta and milk. This is proven too.

There are many questions to be answered, but cannabis has been used for thousands of years by humans. If we use it like an adult social drinker uses alcohol, it is probably fine. By banning it, we've created a larger market than it would get if it were sold and taxed like alcohol.

Visited my BIL recently in San Francisco, and while I was waiting for him in front of a train station, I lit up a doobie. When he showed, he cautioned me, "Dude - it's legal, but don't smoke it in the middle of the street."

Here in Canada, it's legal to smoke anywhere tobacco is. The signs say 7 meters from entries into establishments. And there are some smoking areas that are tobacco only, some that allow both, and some that are cannabis only (I saw that at a university).

Look how much pain alcohol causes in the world.

Hardly equivalent. Alcohol is a hard drug like cocaine or heroin. Cannabis isn't.

Not so fast...

But for the time being, would-be marijuana tourists will be disappointed.The government has said it is promoting cannabis for medical use only, warning those eager to light up for fun that smoking in public could still considered to be a nuisance subject to a potential 3-month sentence and 25,000 Thai baht ($780) fine.

I was in Thailand at Christmas and there was an expo convention thing in one of the big shopping malls on the top floor in Bangkok. it was full of plants and growing equipment, medical equipment that can remove the THC's, medicines, tubes of health creams, it was very interesting, it was showing what you can do with hemp leafs, they were using them as cooking flavourings, creams for aching joints ( which i bought) i was a bit scared going through customs as at the time it was not fully accepted the (THC had been removed)

What will happen to the people that were caught with Marijuana in past that are still locked up for possesing it, will they be let off?

Japanese citizens/ nationals are forbidden to use own or anything to do with cannabis anywhere in the world.

No it's not. The government put out warnings, but if you read them, the small print is for possession, and there is no mechanism in Japanese law for punishing out of country drug use.

Its only supposed to be used on private property

In British Colombia you can smoke anywhere tobacco is ok - not only private residences.

i rarely smell it here. Sometimes though. I like the smell but I can understand how it would put off those that don’t - same way I don’t like tobacco smell.

A good first step but if they are smart they'll go the way of Canada and Uruguay. I heard South Africa is on the way to legalizing it too.

One more small step and they'll join the club who've realized that despite what the American alcohol giants claimed, marijuana is safer than alcohol.

I look forward to the day when, instead of signs at my airport warning that international travel with marijuana is forbidden, it's available at the duty free stores.

I'm looking forward to the J-Gov response. Probably something related to how Japanese residents should not partake in activities that are considered illegal in Japan while visiting a foreign country. Or, a "study" will be done on how this new Thai law could impact Japanese business. They might even "urge" residents to stay away from Thailand entirely.

JeremiahToday  05:00 pm JST

No one wants anyone to unnecessarily suffer. If marijuana helps someone’s pain management, then it’s a societal harm that might be rarely used as a benefit.

(Yes, marijuana use is a societal harm. There’s a reason they call it “dope.” It makes people dopey.)

Yet alcohol is far, far more of a societal harm making people belligerent and violent aa well as being addictive yet it's completely legal. Your 'logic' isn't very logical.

it’s called dope for a reason

Not a good one though. It's the product of a war on campaign, trying to brainwash people into the idea that cannabis is bad. Now people parrot the brainwashing they've heard, with dog whistles like the one above, thinking they are a logical argument.

Crazy that this country is so relaxed about alcohol and cigarettes but see cannabis as the devil. Oh wait, tax revenue!

"Prohibition is the trigger of crime" (Ian Fleming)

I live in a state where recreational pot and edibles are legal and I am kinda like "meh" when it comes to lighting up.

I enjoy an edible (5mg THC) once in a while on weekends and it's a nice way to relax but it really ain't that big of a deal.

I hope Thailand prospers financially from this decision and encourages other countries to follow suit.

Their police will be able to shift their attention to "real" criminals now.

Japanese citizens/ nationals are forbidden to use own or anything to do with cannabis anywhere in the world.

Only Japanese with no sense of self-worth and dignity can allow such an anti-democratic ukaz from the ruling wannabe daimyo on high to come between them and their high. Freedom to make personal choices is the future for the Japanese if they really want it

Crazy that this country is so relaxed about alcohol and cigarettes but see cannabis as the devil. Oh wait, tax revenue!

Even that's a logical fallacy, as we can see from regions that have legalized it that they rake in the tax dollars. Colorado funneled a significant portion of the cannabis tax dollars into education, using it to improve infrastructure in schools and increase funding:

https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/27/colorado-marijuana-tax-dollars-schools/

Got to visit Thailand this summer for the beaches and stuff... ; - ))

Hello Thailand!

WooHoo!

Guess I'll go there FIRST, since Japan doesn't need tourist money any more.

The smell of burning marijuana in Canadian cities is awful, a real horrible stink. Its only supposed to be used on private property but the stench in public parks is worse than somebody passing gas in an elevator.

@ proxy, Really? I find the aroma rather tantalizing if all the seeds have been removed before lighting up. An onion fart in an elevator is also enjoyable if I created it.

I'm not bothered what chemicals people smoke (consume or inject) as long as I can shop and travel in a non-smoking environment. That's no cigarette, vaping or pot fumes.

Obviously the writer of this story knows nothing about Cannabis, because true Thaistick was dipped in a liquid Opium mix.

Good luck legalizing that.

Legal or illegal the money will be made by the same people. As one said here, it’s called dope for a reason, any drug use should be discouraged. Look how much pain alcohol causes in the world.

There has never been any dam in that whole area, the Golden triangle is infamous, a synonym for Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos altogether.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em! Good news for the land of smiles.

Get outa jail and get yer pot and money back !

Sounds to good to be true.

In the USA and Canada cannabis its truly a gold rush industry.

I remember going to Amsterdam was fun .

Japan's cannabis laws are so ridiculous i can't imagine people could enjoy the effects.

@kumagajin

You mean Japanese citizens/nationals not Japanese residents.

Japanese citizens/ nationals are forbidden to use own or anything to do with cannabis anywhere in the world.

sell it dont smoke it. dont get high on your own supply, seems to be the message.

Seems they want to export the problems associated with drug abuse while getting paid to be part of the problem of addiction.

So you can buy it at a Cafe but only use it at home ?

No one wants anyone to unnecessarily suffer. If marijuana helps someone’s pain management, then it’s a societal harm that might be rarely used as a benefit.

(Yes, marijuana use is a societal harm. There’s a reason they call it “dope.” It makes people dopey.)