Half a dozen varieties of weed are carefully arranged on a fancy metal counter.
They have promising names like “Painkiller,” “Gorilla Burger” or “Mango Sunset Haze.”
From locals to tourists or expats living in Thailand, there’s boundless enthusiasm for the country’s new cannabis shops that can suddenly be found nationwide. “All our products have been locally grown in Thailand, which is really good for the economy,” says a salesperson at The Dispensary, a stylish Bangkok shop.
The government legalized cannabis last June in an unexpected move, transforming Thailand into a Mecca for marijuana fans from all over the world.
The shops have names like Cannabangka, Cannabis Twins, The Chillax, Ministry of High and Fat Buds Weed Shop, and they range from somewhat shabby establishments to upscale specialist outlets. People also flock to new pop-up trucks to buy weed.
Thailand is the first country in Asia where cannabis can be sold legally, in a radical change from the past when anyone taking a drag on a joint risked a jail sentence. Now, people may smoke freely.
But in other countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia or Singapore, possession can lead to a lengthy prison sentence or even the death penalty.
In Thailand, “the current legal situation helps tourism, which has been slow to recover after the coronavirus pandemic,” says Thomas, a German expat who emigrated to Bangkok 20 years ago.
“The sudden opening shows how unique Thailand is, compared to Europe, where legalizing cannabis has been debated for decades. In Thailand the legal situation can change overnight, in this case in a positive sense,” he says.
While the rules are still being adjusted with parliament debating the new law that remains controversial, the Health Ministry has published a cannabis guide, called “10 things tourists need to know about cannabis in Thailand.”
The guide aims to help holidaymakers navigate the scene so they know what is allowed and what remains illegal. Tourism offices in Thailand’s provinces have been instructed to distribute the rules.
One important regulation is that cannabis products may not be consumed by people under the age of 20. Experts around the world say regular consumption puts young people in particular at risk of serious health problems.
In Thailand, marijuana products are also banned for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, unless a medical professional has stipulated otherwise. And people may not transport seeds or parts of the cannabis plant to or from Thailand for personal use.
“As long as the marijuana stays in the country, the clients can buy however much they want,” says André, the Russian-Canadian owner of Cannabis Kingdom.
His establishment in Bangkok’s central Silom district is a combination of a weed shop and café. Business has been booming ever since he opened in the past month. “South Koreans, Japanese, Russians and Germans have visited us already, as well as many Thais. Some clients are very experienced, others are absolute newcomers,” says André.
Patrons may not smoke joints directly on site though, another of the rules in the government-issued guidelines. “Smoking cannabis in public places, including schools and shopping malls, is illegal,” the rules say. That has prompted many shops to set up private areas nearby where people can smoke.
The architect of Thailand’s decriminalization of cannabis is Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The change also saw the government give away 1 million cannabis plants to households last year to boost production and prod the economy that was weakened by the pandemic.
For now, Thailand is in transition. Officially, cannabis has only been released for medical and industrial use, but since it has been removed from the list of illegal drugs, recreational use is no longer prohibited.
However, until parliament passes the law to legalize marijuana, many remain concerned about this new freedom. But most shop owners doubt pot will be completely banned again, as the economic boost is too great.
“Of course, there are conservative voices that are loudly insisting on making the use of cannabis illegal again,” says Thomas, adding that is likely more to do with politics than morality or health.
It would be impossible to turn back the clock and punish marijuana use with prison sentences again, according to a recent editorial in the Bangkok Post newspaper.
“What society wants is effective enforcement of the legislation to properly regulate the use of cannabis – especially to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands,” the Post wrote.
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