News Forum - Sixteen tonnes of confiscated cannabis to be returned to drug offenders in Thailand

[Thaiger]

In bonkers Thailand, the police are giving drug offenders their cannabis back. Now that cannabis is legal, Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) plans to return 16 tonnes of confiscated marijuana to its original owners, according to the board’s Secretary General Wichai Chaimongkol. The stockpiled cannabis is valued at 110 million baht. Yesterday, all parts of the marijuana plant were delisted as a Category 5 narcotic in Thailand. Growing cannabis at home became legal and more than 3,000 “cannabis convicts” were released from prison. Now that the plant – including the THC-rich flowers – is no longer illegal, […]

The story Sixteen tonnes of confiscated cannabis to be returned to drug offenders in Thailand as seen on Thaiger News.

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[Cabra]

11 minutes ago, Thaiger said:

Now that the plant – including the THC-rich flowers – is no longer illegal

Well that answers my question... I wasn't sure if they where against the distribution of THC rich flower (as they are with the extracts). Hopefully someone will open a legal dispensary soon to sell the flower. Now that 16 tonnes will be hitting the market

[Donald]

Good, another bit of positive news. Not everybody might agree with it, but the beneficial properties of Cannabis have too long been ignored. A lot of people will benefit. And if it is legal to sell alcohol, cigarettes and psychoactive drugs (prescribed), then this is certainly a logical step to decriminalize Cannabis.

[Naanlaew]

So they are giving out weed at the police station nowadays. Makes perfect sense. 

[Shade_Wilder]

 

I am all in favour of decriminalization of weed; too many young people have had their lives harmed with idiotic legal convictions for burning a plant. Enough already with the criminality.

However, Thailand is going about this wrong.

Rather than just decriminalization, Thailand should go all in with dispensaries and weed products (edibles, etc.) for recreational use. The recreational weed market in Asia is worth billions and whomever is wise enough to go first will enter it with HUGE advantages. The first entrant will create all the regulations which will mostly be followed by other countries (governments are lazy). The first entrant will write the laws governing it all, and can write those laws to benefit local conditions. Finally, the first entrant will have the advantage of being the first marketer and will have lots of time to build and develop brands which will last decades; anyone remember "ThaiStick"? I do.

Weed will inevitable become a billion dollar business in Asia over the next decade or so; get in on the ground-floor or cry on that floor for missed opportunities when another country snatches all the profits.

And, returning 16 Tons of weed makes me think of a Monty Python sketch.

We live in a weird, weird place...

 

[Stevejm]

I thought there was some stipulation about THC content having to be less than 0.2% or does that only apply to using it? This exercise of returning it to the original owners kind of reminds me of the police stings where they offer prizes to wanted criminals then arresting them when they go to collect! Maybe everyone who picks up their stash will get visited at home afterwards and if they are sampling it they get arrested for illegal use?

[Dancbmac]

This is hilarious . Well better than reading about stupid things coming out of the US news.  Can get a better laugh from this news.

[Stevejm]

I have never seen so many positive responses to a thread on this forum

[AmbientMopar]

3 hours ago, Shade_Wilder said:

I am all in favour of decriminalization of weed; too many young people have had their lives harmed with idiotic legal convictions for burning a plant. Enough already with the criminality.

However, Thailand is going about this wrong.

Rather than just decriminalization, Thailand should go all in with dispensaries and weed products (edibles, etc.) for recreational use. The recreational weed market in Asia is worth billions and whomever is wise enough to go first will enter it with HUGE advantages. The first entrant will create all the regulations which will mostly be followed by other countries (governments are lazy). The first entrant will write the laws governing it all, and can write those laws to benefit local conditions. Finally, the first entrant will have the advantage of being the first marketer and will have lots of time to build and develop brands which will last decades; anyone remember "ThaiStick"? I do.

Weed will inevitable become a billion dollar business in Asia over the next decade or so; get in on the ground-floor or cry on that floor for missed opportunities when another country snatches all the profits.

And, returning 16 Tons of weed makes me think of a Monty Python sketch.

We live in a weird, weird place...

This comment is very clearly written.  Somehow this comment is in need of reaching those who are setting policies here in Thailand.... To those who set policies, don't miss the boat on this historic opportunity. 

[palooka]

4 hours ago, Thaiger said:

In bonkers Thailand,

Apt description.

[Stevejm]

13 minutes ago, palooka said:

Apt description.

But in a good way this time

[Ellenrocr]

Really? What on earth is the gentleman saying? You broke the law and now retrospectively we are going to let you off! Time for you to retire sir

[Thaidup]

110 MILLION  baht divided by 3000 convicts = 366,666, something doesn't add up

[Chas]

Stupid decision. 

[Grumpyoldman]

Why wasn't it destroyed before now?

 

Oh wait, TIT and why destroy what could become a "cash crop" one day.... 

[Fanta]

3 hours ago, Thaidup said:

110 MILLION  baht divided by 3000 convicts = 366,666, something doesn't add up

36,666 per person. Still a chunk of change though. 

[Thaidup]

3 hours ago, Thaidup said:

110 MILLION  baht divided by 3000 convicts = 366,666, something doesn't add up

My division.

[Stevejm]

1 hour ago, Fanta said:

36,666 per person. Still a chunk of change though. 

If sold to tourists multiply 110m by 10

[Zorba_the_Geek]

On 6/11/2022 at 2:18 PM, Ellenrocr said:

Really? What on earth is the gentleman saying? You broke the law and now retrospectively we are going to let you off! Time for you to retire sir

Cope.

[ExpatPattaya]

"plans to return the cannabis"  Likely some of it will end up elsewhere or smoked 5555

[Faraday]

An unnecessarily rude comment has been removed.

Please keep it civil, gentlemen.

Moderator.

 

 

[Bluesofa]

On 6/11/2022 at 10:46 AM, Grumpyoldman said:

Why wasn't it destroyed before now?

Oh wait, TIT and why destroy what could become a "cash crop" one day.... 

That's a very good point about it being destroyed.

In the past we used to see images of seized illegal drugs being burnt. It was always joked at the time about those being near the fire must have got high.

[Shade_Wilder]

I genuinely don't want to give a serious answer to a good topic on weed, but...

The weed was evidence, and evidence isn't destroyed until all legal avenues (initial trial, any appeals, etc.) have been exhausted.

I would bet a chunk of it was removed for safe-keeping, though...

 

[Fenderstrat]

I wonder if the cannabis offenders that were summary executed during the Thaksin purge will have any recourse.

[Bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, Fenderstrat said:

I wonder if the cannabis offenders that were summary executed during the Thaksin purge will have any recourse.

Seeing as buddhists believe in reincarnation, surely there's a good chance?