Following complaints that several stores on Khao San Road were openly advertising cannabis usage for recreational purposes, health and administrative officials conducted inspections of the area today.
There were inspections of businesses selling cannabis to tourists on Bangkok’s famous Khao San Road today by representatives from the Ministry of Public Health, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and the Metropolitan Police. Even though the Thai government is pushing cannabis and hemp for medicinal purposes, the legalization of these substances has been met with opposition.
Recently, the Ministry of Public Health made the decision to regulate cannabis and make it illegal to buy cannabis products for the purpose of smoking them in public.
Some stores on Khao San Road give a place to smoke cannabis on the premises, which is against the law but is not enforced by the relevant authorities.
Law enforcement is investigating other penal statutes that might be used against the stores.
Except for one store, all of the pot stores on Khao San Road have the appropriate permits from the government. This store’s license is registered in the neighboring province of Lopburi. All stores were requested to take down signs that encouraged customers to consume cannabis for recreational purposes.
A clinic advertising traditional Thai treatment is also being investigated to ensure it has the proper licensing. If the clinic does not have the necessary license to operate, the clinic and its practitioners may be subject to legal action.
In order to maintain cannabis’ legality for medical and economic purposes for the long term, Dr. Thongchai Lertwilairatanapong, Director General of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, has urged company owners to follow all applicable legislation.
