Recently, Thailand’s “Xiti” ranked first in Asia. However, no one envied this crown, and it also attracted the disdain of many countries.
According to the announcement issued by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, starting from June 9, except for cannabis extracts with a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) value higher than 0.2%, the production, possession, consumption, import and export of cannabis in Thailand will be legal. Behavior.
More than 3,000 prisoners who were originally imprisoned for marijuana were released at once. What’s even more “thoughtful” is that the Thai Food and Drug Administration has also launched a website and APP for cannabis cultivation.
● picture source: China New Video
This means that Thailand has unswervingly become the first country in Asia to legalize marijuana. The whole country was shocked to hear that marijuana was kicked off the drug list.
In just 5 days, the cannabis cultivation webpage and APP received as many as 20 million visits, and 700,000 users registered for cultivation. Customers even lined up to buy marijuana.
● Customers line up to buy marijuana Image source: Reuters
Due to the overwhelming response from the public, four patients were hospitalized for marijuana use in the capital Bangkok, and one of them died of cardiac arrest.
In order to regulate the use of cannabis, the Thai government has successively added many regulations. On June 17, the "Royal Gazette" urgently published some prohibitions:
Marijuana cannot be smoked in public, and marijuana cannot be sold to pregnant women, nursing mothers, and minors under 20 years old. At the same time, it is required that food and beverages containing cannabis must disclose cannabis information.
● Picture source: China-Singapore Video
Thai Health Minister Anutin said confidently and longingly: "Cannabis can be legally used for medical and health care purposes, but other uses are not appropriate and need to be controlled by law. .”
He believes that with perfect laws, the value of cannabis can be fully explored and the potential harm can be firmly blocked.
But once Pandora’s box is opened, is it really so easy to control? Why does Thailand take such desperate risks in the cannabis industry?
Due to its unique geographical conditions, northeastern Thailand, with its arid climate and poor soil, is particularly suitable for growing cannabis. Thailand has also been at the forefront of Asia in terms of cannabis.
As early as 2016, the Thai government classified cannabis as a "cash crop" and allowed small-scale cultivation to extract medicines. After tasting the sweetness, Thailand took subsequent actions and took the lead in legalizing medical marijuana in 2019.
The first batch of medical cannabis clinics were opened in January 2020. In just one day, an average of more than 2,200 people made appointments at each clinic, and the consultation time was until March.
● Cannabis Clinic Mascot
The then Thai Health Minister Anutin said excitedly: "This is an important step for Thailand to develop the medical cannabis industry." According to this timeline, legalizing cannabis this year is completely Everything will fall into place.
According to the Thai government, this move has many benefits. It can not only promote medical research, but also improve the rural economy. The income from growing cannabis is much higher than that of ordinary crops.
Moreover, cannabis can also promote tourism in Thailand. You heard it right, Thailand’s newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Sports has been advocating “marijuana tourism” for a long time.
Marijuana has important medical uses, and many patients need to purchase medical marijuana products. When Thailand's cannabis products become famous, they will definitely attract such tourists.
He even conceived a unique "cannabis medical tourism package", extracting essential oils and incense from cannabis, allowing tourists to get treatment in Thai massage .
● cannabis oil
In addition, there are many drug addicts in the world, which is an even larger group that is suppressed in this country. If there is suppression, it needs to be released. As the only country in Asia where cannabis is legal, Thailand will definitely be their first choice.
And tourism is really important to Thailand. In 2019, Thailand received a record 39.8 million foreign tourists, with revenue reaching 1.93 trillion baht (approximately 440 billion yuan), accounting for 12% of Thailand's GDP.
Based on this, Thailand has always spared no effort and ingenuity in developing tourism. Previously, it became popular in the name of "Gay Paradise", attracting countless gay lovers from all over the world.
● Silom Road, Bangkok
But the subsequent COVID-19 epidemic severely damaged the Thai economy, and the tourism industry was even more devastated.
The economic downturn has accelerated Thailand’s deployment in the cannabis industry. However, their wishful thinking has been met, but the results are not optimistic.
Thailand feels it is in control, but many industries have gray areas, not to mention addictive drugs like marijuana. A slight lack of control may lead to social unrest.
Thailand’s tourism industry is more likely to be backlashed by cannabis and lose everything.
Compared to patients and addicts, most tourists are healthy and normal. I used to travel to Thailand to be quiet and comfortable, but now I have to face the problem of drugs. If I get involved with marijuana, I can't get rid of it even if I jump into the Yellow River.
The Thai government is also aware of the seriousness of the problem and has repeatedly reminded Thai citizens not to carry cannabis products when traveling abroad. In countries like Vietnam , Indonesia and other countries, bringing marijuana into the country will result in a huge fine at the least, or the end of your life at the worst.
● Cannabis-containing beverages Image source: China-Singapore Video
The Chinese Embassy in Thailand also issued a special document to remind compatriots that smoking marijuana in foreign countries is treated the same as taking drugs in China and will be punished by law.
Moreover, many food and drinks in Thailand are now added with cannabis. Before buying, you must pay attention to identify whether there is cannabis content. If you accidentally take it, it can be detected through urine, blood, saliva and hair and used as evidence of illegality.
● picture source: Zhongxin Video
If you unintentionally bring products containing cannabis ingredients back to the country, the sin will be even greater. Article 357 of the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China " clearly stipulates: "It is a criminal offense to carry or carry marijuana or marijuana products into China."
In 2018, Canada promoted the legalization of marijuana. An 18-year-old boy in Hong Kong, China found a "good guy" live". He was given a free trip to Canada and was paid 100,000 Hong Kong dollars. The other party only asked him to bring some items back to China.
He walked off the plane with two suitcases and calmly accepted the inspection. When the security inspector opened the suitcase, he was stunned to find 30 kilograms of marijuana inside.
● The arrested young man
The naive young man had no idea what was in the suitcase. But he committed a serious crime unknowingly and lost the rest of his life to it.
China has always had zero tolerance for drugs. When foreigners smuggle drugs in China, even if foreign leaders negotiate, they will still be sentenced to death.
● In 2021, Canadian Schellenberg was sentenced to death in Liaoning for drug smuggling.
When traveling to Thailand in the future, you will have to be wary of everything you eat. How many people will give up their plans to go to Thailand because of this?
Granted, marijuana is less toxic. But precisely because it is less toxic, it is more difficult to control because people's understanding of marijuana is seriously mixed.
Hard drugs like heroin, cocaine, etc., everyone knows to stay away from them. But cannabis gives people a strange feeling, and the West's laissez-faire attitude towards cannabis has amplified this feeling.
● Musk smoked marijuana in the live broadcast
Human nature is strong. Marijuana is legal in Canada, and it is also legal in many states in the United States. Even Obama and Musk have smoked marijuana. This gives people the illusion that marijuana is very harmful and is a novel life experience.
At the same time, many Chinese students who went to North America also began to try marijuana in order to integrate into the local circle, or under the influence of social atmosphere, and brought this bad habit back to the country.
This has led to a very scary situation. Although the proportion of marijuana smokers in China is far lower than that in Europe and the United States, the number continues to increase.
Drug smuggling from North America is also increasing, with less than 10 cases in 2012 and 124 cases five years later.
Among them, marijuana is the absolute protagonist, accounting for more than 90% of the proportion. Dr. Hua Zhendong, deputy director of the Narcotics Laboratory of the Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Technology Center of the Ministry of Public Security, said:
"The proportion of cannabis drugs involved reaches more than 90%. In addition to traditional cannabis cigarettes and cannabis resin, various cakes containing THC Processed foods such as cookies, chocolates and candies are also often found, which are more concealed and more difficult to detect. "
Although the harm of marijuana is low, it is also a real drug. It has many side effects: “In addition to symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, panic, and paranoia, it can also cause abnormalities in short-term memory, attention, judgment, and motor coordination. Some can also induce positive symptoms of mental illness, such as auditory hallucinations. , persecution delusion, etc. ”
● Green indicates states in the United States that have legalized marijuana
Long-term marijuana use by minors will affect brain development and cause irreversible damage.
More importantly, after smoking marijuana, it opens the door to a new world. Even plants are resistant to and . When marijuana cannot meet the demand, how many people will try more exciting drugs.
Therefore, the best way to stay away from drugs is to never touch them.
The United States and Canada are both new countries founded by immigrants, and they have no painful memories. This also leads to their flippant attitude towards marijuana.
But we are completely different from them!
“Before a person falls, he doesn’t know how painful it is to fall or how difficult it is to stand up.”
● A man smoking opium in the late Qing Dynasty
For many years, China has carried out the "Tianmu" drug eradication operation, directly Through high-tech means of satellite remote sensing and drone aerial photography, illegally grown opium poppy and marijuana are located.
In 2016 and 2017, China eradicated 1.39 million and 480,000 narcotic marijuana plants respectively, effectively curbing the illegal cultivation of marijuana. In 2018, there was almost no hemp to shovel, and the number dropped to more than 700 plants.
There will never be anyone in the world who feels the same way. If the ship doesn’t sail to your waters and the artillery doesn’t hit your land, you don’t know what shame is.
Few countries understand the dangers of drugs better than China.
American poet Robert Frost wrote: "There were two roads in the woods. I chose the one less traveled by, and it changed my life."
Some roads are full of flowers, but they are the entrance to hell; some roads are full of flowers, but they are the entrance to hell; There are many thorns, but they can lead to dreamland.
It's easy to follow the crowd, but being able to stick to your heart is what's really cool.
Today (June 26) is the International Day Against Drug Abuse. Zero tolerance for drugs is our attitude! Text/Linghu Kong
