Thailand's 'weed wild west' faces new guidelines as smuggling to UK rises

[ad_1] Jonathan Head South East Asia correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1b2b/live/f7319400-50f0-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters A brightly-lit neon shop window shows a woman in black gloves working surrounded by cannabis products" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Since Thailand decriminalised hashish in 2022, retailers promoting the drug have popped up throughout the nation

Thailand is attempting to rein in its free-wheeling marijuana market.

The federal government has authorized new measures, which is able to quickly prohibit consumption of the drug to these with a health care provider's prescription - within the hope that it will assist regulate an business some describe as uncontrolled.

The general public well being minister has additionally mentioned that consumption of marijuana shall be criminalised once more, though it is unclear when that might occur.

Ever for the reason that drug was decriminalised in 2022, there was a frenzy of funding.

There at the moment are round 11,000 registered hashish dispensaries in Thailand. In elements of the capital Bangkok it's not possible to flee the lurid inexperienced glare of their neon indicators and the fixed scent of individuals smoking their merchandise.

Within the well-known backpacker district of Khao San Highway, within the historic royal quarter, there's a complete shopping center devoted to promoting hallucinogenic flower heads or marijuana equipment.

Spinoff merchandise like brownies and gummies are supplied overtly on-line – though that is technically unlawful – and could be delivered to your door inside an hour.

There was discuss of limiting the business earlier than. The most important get together within the authorities coalition wished to place hashish again on the listing of proscribed narcotics after it took workplace in 2023, however its former coalition companion, which had made decriminalisation a signature election coverage, blocked this plan.

However the ultimate straw seems to have been strain from the UK, which has seen a flood of Thai marijuana being smuggled into the nation.

It's usually younger travellers who're lured by drug syndicates in Britain into carrying suitcases crammed with it on flights from Thailand.

Final month two younger British girls have been arrested in Georgia and Sri Lanka, with massive quantities of marijuana from Thailand. Each now face lengthy jail sentences.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e46d/live/1ad49d70-5115-11f0-918d-fb788d4dd5b5.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Thai Customs Department A woman sits on a sofa gesturing with one hand whilst holding a phone in another, her legs crossed, and her face is blurred. Meanwhile some in uniform is searching through a bag full of black vacuum compressed bags." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Thai Customs Division A rising variety of younger individuals have been caught attempting to smuggle hashish to the UK

"It is massively elevated over the past couple of years," says Beki Wright, spokesperson on the Nationwide Crime Company in London (NCA). The NCA says 142 couriers carrying 5 tonnes have been intercepted in 2023. This quantity shot as much as 800 couriers in 2024 carrying 26 tonnes, and that quantity has continued to rise this yr.

"We actually wish to cease individuals doing this. As a result of if you're stopped, on this nation or many others, you face life-changing penalties, for one thing lots of them suppose is low-risk. In case you deliver illicit medication into the UK you would possibly get by means of the primary time, however you'll ultimately be discovered, and you'll probably go to jail."

Up to now this yr, 173 individuals accused of smuggling hashish – almost all from Thailand – have gone by means of the court docket system within the UK and acquired sentences totalling 230 years.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a837/live/d63f5c30-519c-11f0-a0e9-abfbd30ab4f2.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Jonathan Head/BBC Three men in masks search a suitcase full of vacuum packed black and see-through bags" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Jonathan Head/BBC Thai airport authorities have needed to intensify their inspections to fight drug smuggling

The NCA is working along with Thai authorities to attempt to deter younger individuals from being tempted to smuggle hashish to Britain. However this has proved tough, due to the only a few laws that exist in Thailand to manage the drug.

"It is a loophole," says Panthong Loykulnanta, spokesman for the Thai Customs Division.

"The revenue may be very excessive, however the penalties right here are usually not excessive. More often than not after we catch individuals on the airport they abandon their baggage. However then there isn't any punishment. In the event that they insist on checking within the baggage, we are able to arrest them, however they only pay the effective and check out once more."

The legalisation of hashish in 2022 was speculated to be adopted by the passing of a brand new regulatory framework by the Thai parliament.

However this by no means occurred, partly, says one MP concerned within the drafting course of, due to obstruction by vested pursuits with hyperlinks to the marijuana business. A brand new hashish regulation was drawn up final yr, however it could possibly be two years away from being handed.

The outcome has been a weed wild west, the place nearly something that may generate income out of marijuana is tolerated.

There has additionally been an inflow of overseas drug syndicates hiding behind Thai nominees, rising large portions of potent marijuana strains in brightly-lit, air-conditioned containers.

This has flooded the market and pushed the worth down, which is what has attracted the smugglers.

Even when greater than half the individuals carrying marijuana get stopped, they'll nonetheless generate income from what will get by means of to the UK due to a lot larger costs there.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7cc1/live/d91cee00-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Jonathan Head/BBC Dozens of people stand holding up a big white banner with black and white pictures attached to it" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Jonathan Head/BBC Small hashish growers have been calling on the federal government to raised regulate the business

"You can't have a free-for-all, proper? This grew to become a bar battle quite than a boxing match," says Tom Kruesopon, a businessman who was instrumental in legalising marijuana, however now thinks issues have now gone too far.

"When there's a weed store on each nook, when persons are smoking as they're strolling down the road, when vacationers are getting excessive on our seashores, different nations being affected by our legal guidelines, with individuals delivery it illegally – these are negatives."

He argues that the proposed new public well being ministry laws will prohibit provide and demand, and restore the business to what it was all the time meant to be, targeted solely on the medical use of marijuana.

There's loads of opposition to this notion from hashish fans who consider the brand new guidelines will do nothing to curb smuggling or unlicensed growers.

They are saying the measures will wipe out small-scale companies who're already struggling due to the glut attributable to over-production.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fc6b/live/b3787270-50ea-11f0-922f-9fb4bdd79d98.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Thanyarat Doksone/BBC A woman holds a cannabis leaf to her nose, surrounded by cannabis plants, with a young man standing behind her" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Thanyarat Doksone/BBC Kitty Chopaka, who runs a small weed farm, is an advocate for the neighborhood

Earlier this month, many of those smaller growers descended on the prime minister's workplace in Bangkok to ship a proper grievance to the federal government, calling for a extra sensitively regulated business, and never simply what they consider is a knee-jerk response to overseas criticism.

"I completely perceive that the federal government might be getting yelled at throughout worldwide conferences," says Kitty Chopaka, probably the most vocal advocate for smaller producers.

"Nations saying 'All of your weed is getting smuggled into our nation,' that's fairly embarrassing. However proper now they aren't even implementing the foundations that exist already. In the event that they did, that may in all probability mitigate a whole lot of the problems like smuggling, or sale with no licence."

The collapse in costs compelled her earlier this yr to shut down her hashish dispensary, one of many first to open three years in the past.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4c78/live/3de00620-510a-11f0-8268-2df9989f3f1c.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Thanyarat Doksone/BBC Piles of luggage are seen in a room" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Thanyarat Doksone/BBC Confiscated baggage, which comprises marijuana, in a room on the Bangkok airport

Parinya Sangprasert, one of many growers on the protest, argues that the unlawful growers are already working exterior the regulation in Thailand - and can ignore the brand new laws as nicely.

He's emphatic that individuals can't come to his farm and simply purchase 46kg (101 lbs) of marijuana – the amount usually carried in two suitcases by the "mules" attempting to achieve the UK.

On his telephone he introduced up a replica of the official type he has to fill in each time he makes a sale.

"If you wish to purchase or promote a considerable amount of hashish, you want a licence, issued by our authorities. Each weed store should get hold of this to purchase marijuana, and there are information stored of which farm it is from and who it was bought to."

Within the meantime, Thai customs officers are persevering with their efforts to stem the flood of hashish although their airports.

They're utilizing intelligence gathered on journey patterns to focus on potential smugglers, and dissuade them from checking of their tainted baggage, and risking harsh jail sentences of their vacation spot nations.

They're more and more utilizing the requirement for a licence to purchase, promote or export portions of marijuana to prosecute these they intercept, however the punishment isn't greater than a effective.

And the confiscated suitcases, crammed with vacuum-sealed packages of dried marijuana heads, with names like "Runtz" and "Zkittlez", nonetheless pile up in backrooms on the airports. There have been round 200 in a single room the BBC was allowed into, containing between two to a few tonnes, taken in simply the previous month.