National —
The Bangkok Governor said he could smell marijuana joint smoke while routinely jogging on Khao San Road and was “concerned”.
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Friday, August 12th, “I was out for jogging on Khao San Road today, and I could smell joint’s smoke. It is quite concerning because it might have a long-term effect.” The smoke, according to him, was in the breeze, and he was certain it was the smell of marijuana.”
The governor did not clarify how he knew what marijuana smelled like when asked by some netizens.
Then, the governor’s statement became widely debated on social media because he said it during his routine Facebook Live with tens of thousands of viewers. Some reportedly questioned the authorities about the specifics of what was and wasn’t allowable under the marijuana law, which was still incomplete.
In response to this controversy, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the leading proponent of marijuana legalization, said, “I was very thankful to the governor for pointing out his concern. The governor should inform the district chief if the smell caused a nuisance.”
TPN notes that final marijuana laws are still not complete although the plant has been decriminalized since June and is now a controlled plant. According to the Thai Government, the plant is meant for only medical use, although in reality under the current decriminalization it doesn’t entirely ban private recreational use, and selling and buying the plant if over twenty years old and not pregnant is legal. Public smoking is against nuisance smoking laws.
