Thailand’s new government is moving ahead to pass new legisalation banning cannabis for recreational use in a major reversal 18 months after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalize the plant.

The relaxed laws saw a lucrative cannabis industry catering to locals and foreigners alike boom across the Southeast Asian nation, but a new conservative coalition government came to power late last year vowing to tighten the rules and only allow medical use.

A draft bill was released on Tuesday by Thailand’s health ministry outlining hefty fines or prison sentences of up to one year for offenders – or both.

  • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    A pity. That country is very dependent on tourism and really hasn’t recovered since the virus.

    There is something about being high as a kite in Bangkok and eating one of the best meals of your life from a stand for a 100 Bhat.

    • fine_sandy_bottom
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      11 months ago

      Yeah I agree, it’s sad.

      When I heard they had legalised weed I thought it was a really clever move.

      There were some other changes to visas around the same time which made Thailand a really great destination for young remote workers. I remember thinking how unusual it was for a south east asian country to be so progressive.

      Now they’re going to shoot themselves in the foot just because they’re worried about what people might think.