Thousands of cannabis shops and businesses have sprung up, especially in Bangkok and tourist spots, since Thailand decriminalise the drug.
Marijuana has also become an election football, with the opposition criticising the ruling pro-military coalition in the run-up to May 14 polls for rushing through decriminalisation last year to what they say is the detriment of society, youngsters in particular.
Apart from the legislative limbo, the benefits of a new cash crop for farmers, trumpeted by Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul who spearheaded the decriminalisation effort, have failed to materialise, six industry members, including farmers and retailers, told Reuters. “Then the imported flowers started coming in,” Kajkanit said, referring to the potent buds favoured by smokers.
“It’s illegal,” he said, “If they are importing illegally, we will have to use law enforcement.” He did not comment on the scale of smuggled cannabis in the market or its impact on farmers. In April, when his next harvest is due, Srapathum expects the price will have slumped to 200,000 baht per kgs.As with the law governing the industry, data is hard to pin down but 1.1 million people in Thailand have registered with the government to grow cannabis. It is not clear if all are doing so or how many people are growing it without registering.
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