A Japanese traveler removes a gram of cannabis buds from a baggie he just purchased from a central Bangkok weed shop, grinds them up in a tiny black grinder, and then rolls them neatly into a joint.
Only a small drop onto the table of the smoking lounge and his cough when he lights up and takes a few deep breaths reveal that, up until two weeks ago, he had never used marijuana.
The de facto legalization of marijuana in Thailand last year has attracted a surge of visitors from the region, including the visitor from Japan, who was drawn in by the allure of the illegal leaf. The majority of Asian countries have tight drug prohibitions with severe consequences.
The 42-year-old visitor who spoke on the condition that his name not be revealed explained, “I was curious about how I would feel after smoking,” out of concern that his experimenting in Bangkok would result in legal problems at home.
He wondered, “I wonder why Japan forbids it. “I wanted to give it a try.”
Thailand has remained an exception in Asia, where several nations still impose the death penalty for some cannabis offenses, even as more nations around the world decriminalize marijuana. Two marijuana traffickers have already been put to death in Singapore this year, and the country’s Central Narcotics Bureau has revealed intentions to randomly test travelers coming from Thailand.
The Chinese embassy in Thailand has issued a warning that using marijuana outside of China and being caught when they return is akin to using drugs at home. You will consequently face associated legal repercussions. Similar travel advisories are given for destinations including the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, where marijuana is widely sold.
A recent flight from Shanghai, China, warned passengers not to “accidentally” consume marijuana in Bangkok, warning that “some food and drink can include cannabis, so please pay attention to the leaf logo on the package of food.”
Since the 1970s, cannabis has been sold in coffee shops in the Netherlands, and Geene claimed that through experience, he has taught his employees how to deal with customers who are unfamiliar with the drug.
It’s not recommended for beginners to use a bong, he said. It is excessive for them. No one passing out here, please.
The only client who agreed to discuss his or her experiences was the Japanese visitor who visited Geene’s business, and only under the condition that his name not be used.
The majority of the shop’s Asian patrons are similarly discrete, choosing to smoke their goods indoors as opposed to outside like many Westerners do, which is typical but against Thai law, according to Geene.
“You don’t need to speak perfect English, but you need to communicate with foreigners,” Thongwilai said.
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