RG420 cannabis Cafe Opened just four days ago in Bangkok’s backpacker-favorite Khao San district, it’s already swarming with customers.
Since Thailand decriminalized factories in June, several such outlets have sprung up across the capital. COVID– Linked controls for foreign visitors.
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Foreign arrivals fell from about 40 million in 2019 to 2 million in the first half of 2022. Cafe At the heart of efforts to revive the tourism industry, which contributed around 12% to GDP before 2015 pandemic hit.
Hundreds of people visit the café every day and he said he plans to open other cafés.
“Europeans, Japanese, Americans – they’re looking for Thai sativa,” Ongard told Reuters, referring to cannabis strains. sightseeing match.
Not everyone agrees.
In 2018, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize medical marijuana. June as a whole cannabis Plants have been decriminalized.
Staff prepare cannabis at the RG420 cannabis store on Khaosan Road, one of the top tourist attractions in Bangkok, Thailand (Source: Reuters)
This is due to an explosion in recreational use, with government officials concerned about the adverse health and productivity effects, often associated with unregulated use. is shown. medicine – tried to retroactively dissuade.
“The law does not cover recreation cannabis use … so tourism promotion is focused on the medical[aspect],” said Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor of the National Tourism Board.
Backlash over the way the new policy is interpreted has created confusion, with authorities resorting to issuing piecemeal regulations such as banning smoking in public places. cannabis Sale to under 20 years old.
A parliamentary committee is now debating a bill to regulate cannabis It is expected to be finalized in September and could affect cannabis cafes.
Doctor Wonwan Akira cannabis An entrepreneur and one of the commission’s advisors, she said she expects recreational use to be subject to zoning laws.
Meanwhile, in RG420’s crowded smoking room, British Malik Khan has just rolled his joints after Raggan, a Thai word meaning “to love one another.”
“This country is beautiful. There is still so much to do here,” said the 26-year-old. “this (cannabis) add very nicely to the scene. ”
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