Thailand Moves to Decriminalize Cannabis, Leading the Way in Asia

My Thai mother has often expressed how proud she is of her birth country, especially the fact that Thailand is the only Asian nation to have never been colonized by a Western nation. I’ve followed the political ups and downs and twists and turns of Thailand’s political scene over the years, checking in on family members as the nation has been locked in a divisive time of protest and military coups. Throughout the turmoil, the nation has become the de facto leader in Asia on cannabis law reform, allowing medicinal use in 2018 and now moving to decriminalize personal use and cultivation, albeit with strict regulations, such as notifying the government of your home garden. Reuters reported on Thailand’s Narcotics Control Board announcing that it was dropping cannabis from the ministry’s list of controlled substances:

“Under the new rule, people can grow cannabis plants at home after notifying their local government, but the cannabis cannot be used for commercial purposes without further licenses, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters.

“The rule must be published in the official Royal Gazette and 120 days must pass before home cannabis plants will become legal.

“Meanwhile, the health ministry will this week present to parliament a separate draft bill which provides details on the legal use of cannabis, including its production and commercial use, including guidelines on recreational use.”

As the Associated Press noted, there’s currently confusion among law enforcement:

“Police and lawyers contacted by The Associated Press said it was unclear if possession of marijuana would no longer be an offense subject to arrest. A tangle of related laws means that production and possession of marijuana remains regulated for the time being, leaving the legal status of recreational marijuana use in a grey area.”

While a lot remains to be hammered out, this is a great step in the right direction for Thailand and the world. Asia remains hotbed of draconian drug laws and success in Thailand will go a long way in advancing the cause across the region. With agriculture and tourism major components of the nation’s economy, legal cannabis will provide an economic boost in Bangkok and beyond. However, most importantly, our global fight for freedom has taken a huge step in the right direction, in an area of the world that needed a leading pioneer.

Kind Leaf is so happy to serve the best cannabis community in the world and supports freedom fighters everywhere. Please see our menu on Leafly and come see why we are Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique.

_{Photo courtesy of Sly Vegas Photography}

Not Surprising, Oregon Has the Biggest Cannabis Community Per Capita

The Oregon cannabis community is certainly a proud one, with plenty of accomplishments to be pleased with. Many are understandably proud of the fact that the Beaver State was the first to decriminalize an ounce back in 1973 and one of the earliest states to pass medical and recreational laws, in 1998 and 2014, respectfully. These pioneering cannabis laws then paved the way for the state to lead the nation towards finally chipping away at the failed Drug War by passing a therapeutic psilocybin initiative and eliminating harsh criminal penalties for the personal possession of all drugs in 2020. In addition to changing laws, Oregon is known for producing top-shelf cannabis particularly in the southern portion of the state that helps comprise the “Emerald Triangle” that stretches into Northern California. Some of the most heated debates that I’ve ever heard have been between cultivators and connoisseurs repping their respective West Coast states. (One thing that both can agree on is that each of them outperform Washington, with all due respect to our Great Northwest neighbor).

With Oregon’s rich cannabis culture and history, it shouldn’t be surprising that its residents utilize the most cannabis per capita in the United States. I’m always dubious of the accuracy of surveys when folks are asked if they are using a federally illegal substance that many employers still prohibit its use, but, for per capita purposes, it’s certainly not that surprising that the Beaver State would be at the top of the list. BestLife explained its methodology to determine the most cannabis consumers per capita.

“It wasn’t long ago when using marijuana put you at risk of being arrested—or at least on the receiving end of a pretty hefty fine. But as more and more states decriminalize—and even legalize—cannabis, people in many areas across the country can now toke up in public. In fact, at the moment, in 18 U.S. states and Washington D.C. the recreational use of marijuana is completely legal, and it is widely expected that even more states will join the club in the coming months and years. With that in mind, we wanted to see which state has the most marijuana users.

“In order to find out where marijuana users are the most prevalent, we collected the percentage of adults in each state who say they’ve used cannabis within the last year, according to Statista. We used that data plus the most recent population data from the U.S. Census Bureau to calculate the number of cannabis users per capita* in each state.”

According to BestLife’s calculations, for every 100,000 Oregonians, 28,560 utilize cannabis. Colorado ranked second with 27,770 as Vermont, Maine, and Alaska rounded out the top 5. Washington State just missed the top 5 while California probably surprises some folks who may not quite understand the sheer size and complexity of the state’s makeup, ranks 14th.

While Reefer Madness prohibitionists may try to denigrate Oregon and other states at the top of the list, the truth is that cannabis use by adults shouldn’t be any more frowned upon as beer and wine consumption, two local industries embraced by many states. With legal cannabis creating jobs, generating revenue, and dismantling Drug War propaganda time and time again, the local cannabis industry should be embraced and nourished like any other homegrown business sector that continues to benefit the local community, including dedicating money to schools and life-saving treatment, harm reduction, and recovery programs.

Kind Leaf is proud to serve Oregonians and be Pendleton’s premier craft cannabis boutique. We so appreciate the cannabis community that helps us give back to our local community. Please see our menu on Leafly and check out our deals and discounts.

United States House Plans Cannabis Legalization Vote Next Month

The United States House made the erroneous decision to NOT vote on ending federal cannabis prohibition before the November 3rd elections, only to see state legalization bills pass across the nation. Now, with public support at an all-time high, a vote is expected in December, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer who announced that the “House will vote on the MORE Act to decriminalize cannabis and expunge convictions for non-violent cannabis offenses that have prevented many Americans from getting jobs, applying for credit and loans, and accessing opportunities that make it possible to get ahead in our economy.”

Fox 17 reported:

Under the bill, marijuana would be removed from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act and criminal penalties for those who manufacture, distribute, or possess marijuana would be eliminated.

In addition, the bill would impose a 5% tax on cannabis products to be deposited in a trust fund which would support various programs to communities impacted by the war on drugs. Among other actions, it would also expunge convictions related to federal cannabis offenses.

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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also created a message form for those who support the bill to contact their local representative. The organization says passage of the bill would help end racial disparities in marijuana arrest rates.

While passage of the bill is uncertain, especially in the Senate, it will be a historic event to just hold the vote. The House passing the bill, which is very likely, will be another huge step forward in our fight for freedom. You can use the ACLU’s message form, or contact your legislators directly to help continue our momentum in our fight for freedom and equality.