Why some countries are legalizing marijuana | DW News

How the stigma around this plant is changing across Asia, opening up a Billion-dollar industry and new jobs. For countries, like Thailand, it’s about returning to its roots. But easier said than done.

Medicinal marijuana is a burgeoning industry. Its recreational use too. Especially in parts of Europe and North America. Asia is lagging.
Still the pandemic has proved to be a catalyst for the adoption of cannabis.
In Indian society, it dates back four thousand years. Then came decades of damaging drug control policies. Now a lot of governments realize they can take in huge tax revenues, if the business is fully legalized. Competitive prices could wipe out the black market. That’ll require well-thought-through state regulation.
Thailand has been leading the way in South East Asia removing cannabis from its list of narcotics last year, effectively lifting its ban on marijuana. But without clear regulations. The legal uncertainty is dampening the thriving weed business. Authorities tightened some rules last month, raiding stalls they say were operating without a license. That’s left many worrying about how long the boom could last.

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#marijuana #thailand #legalization

50 Comments

  1. Anthony Hairston on October 9, 2023 at 8:09 am

    Everyone needs to know Raphael Mechoulam is often called the "father of cannabis research" because of his pioneering work. In 1963, he successfully isolated and elucidated the chemical structure of cannabidiol (CBD), one of the primary non-psychoactive compounds in the cannabis plant. A year later, in 1964, he and his research team were the first to isolate and synthesize delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound responsible for the "high" associated with marijuana consumption.



  2. Strobboskop on October 9, 2023 at 8:13 am

    May the best growers never give their identity to the government.



  3. Smug_Nug on October 9, 2023 at 8:16 am

    Right off the bat I can see diseased plants



  4. Natalie P on October 9, 2023 at 8:16 am

    My brother got about 2,5 years in prison for 77gram of skunk like 10 years ago – because they thought he was selling it. (They found a weight/scale in his house) and nothing else…
    The laws against "drugs" aka cannabis where we live is so damn strict..



  5. Tony Randall on October 9, 2023 at 8:18 am

    Because Big Pharma and governments are corrupt?



  6. Syiem Sonny on October 9, 2023 at 8:19 am

    It must legal in whole world



  7. opa wauben on October 9, 2023 at 8:20 am

    THE NETHERLANDS; 1970



  8. Pentagrams & pictures of you on October 9, 2023 at 8:20 am

    Indonesian 🇮🇩government is pathetic. Thailand 🇹🇭 is better, and to be looked up to.

    – an Indonesian



  9. Cicero alexandar on October 9, 2023 at 8:21 am

    "lagging" Huh, as if it is something progressive.



  10. randar1969 on October 9, 2023 at 8:21 am

    We here in the Netherlands said it all the time Marijuana isn’t innocent but let’s not fool ourselves alcohol is much more dangerous.



  11. Paul D on October 9, 2023 at 8:22 am

    Congrats on deciding not to kill or confine people for life for using a harmless medicinal plant. What progress.



  12. Andreas Andersson on October 9, 2023 at 8:22 am

    On south Pattaya road, opposite of the Flagship 7-11, a former coffee shop changed into a cannabis place. Looked like the people who used to stop for a coffee on the way to work, now buy a bag of cannabis instead. On the way to work. The new age i suppose.
    I only saw Thai people, so they certainly seem to join the party.
    A joint cost the same as a bottle of Bells. To expensive for me and a Bells last longer.



  13. Smug_Nug on October 9, 2023 at 8:26 am

    GreenGreed at the end of the day



  14. AK47OG1 on October 9, 2023 at 8:27 am

    Where is the Hashish???



  15. John Lomax on October 9, 2023 at 8:27 am

    Thai cannabis, what we used to call Thai Stick in the 1970’s is/was the strongest and most psychedelic type of marijuana. This is why I laugh when I hear young people today repeating the lie that weed was weak thirty pluss years ago. Not if you smoked that Thai Stick. We saw people panicking from the potency that they were not expecting.. Nowadays, it’s called "greening out".



  16. Vm888 on October 9, 2023 at 8:27 am

    Ganja is one of the sacred plants in Hinduism. We need to get rid of the dumb laws that the west put on us



  17. Dubbz on October 9, 2023 at 8:27 am

    Seems like China is the only one that hasn’t jumped on the bandwagon to legalize



  18. musicman on October 9, 2023 at 8:28 am

    Cannabis and mushrooms should be legal



  19. trevor marnies on October 9, 2023 at 8:29 am

    Many young women have children before their 25th birthday or are even married before then. Are you suggesting that their brains aren’t fully developed? It’s only in the context of marijuana that you raise the ‘undeveloped’ brain debate. Just a thought!



  20. Astro War on October 9, 2023 at 8:30 am

    Cannabis is a positive plant and will have a positive impact socially.



  21. Ken Yup on October 9, 2023 at 8:30 am

    It’s zero tolerance for marijuana or drugs in majority Asia countries, I’m not optimistic about broadly legalized this



  22. dipi ti on October 9, 2023 at 8:32 am

    Cheaper and less damaging than alcohol.



  23. Madara Uchiha on October 9, 2023 at 8:33 am

    Im a Asian and I’ll travel Bangkok 💚



  24. S K on October 9, 2023 at 8:34 am

    Its only been banned because it is very easy to grow and the tobacco companies didn’t wanted to lose their customer base.



  25. Mark Devera on October 9, 2023 at 8:38 am

    I want to moved to thailand while working from home,



  26. thingonathinginathing on October 9, 2023 at 8:41 am

    Im high on cannabis right now. Its amazing.



  27. Erwin Dulay on October 9, 2023 at 8:42 am

    Some countries cannot legalize marijuana because drugs can be dangerous to our health habits



  28. a for adorable on October 9, 2023 at 8:43 am

    Sana magadan an gabos na nagtotoma kaini.



  29. Advisor Sandy on October 9, 2023 at 8:43 am

    It’s a pleasure enhancer and the people, who are pushing this have an agenda.



  30. Muda Thuka on October 9, 2023 at 8:44 am

    Germany have just made it legal to have 3 plants and up to 25 gram for personal use which is amazing. Hurry up UK!



  31. Moose Bme on October 9, 2023 at 8:46 am

    Why?
    Money, power, control…



  32. rvs1 on October 9, 2023 at 8:47 am

    Even though i agree that legalizing marijuana and getting some proper regulation on it is a good thing you as a news channel should not merely imply that it’s inevitable everyone legalizes it by saying "asia is lagging".



  33. Ebay Seller on October 9, 2023 at 8:48 am

    I don’t care why JUST DO IT



  34. WaffenSSTotenkopf on October 9, 2023 at 8:49 am

    Best way to overcome the stigma, is to light up a spliff and inhale👌😅



  35. Mad King of Madaya on October 9, 2023 at 8:51 am

    *_Asia is not lagging. Psychodelic products have been used since millenia before anyone with sense stepped foot in europe and the west. The middle east and more specifically Babylonia was known for it’s love of beer, Persia for it’s love of wine, psycodelics were also used daily. It’s no surprise then that the biggest religions that prohibit the consumption of these things come from that same region._*



  36. thesjkexperience on October 9, 2023 at 8:53 am

    Alcohol is poison, cannabis is health!



  37. ทักษ์ มากสังข์ on October 9, 2023 at 8:56 am

    Weed is good 😁🙏👍🇹🇭



  38. Christian-E. Latte on October 9, 2023 at 8:57 am

    Now I can put Thailand on my holiday wishlist.



  39. Ron Livingston on October 9, 2023 at 8:58 am

    They have been studying marijuana since the 60s. The first published study stated marijuana was not nearly as harmful as booze and cigarettes which have always been legal and a huge money maker for the establishment. They know booze and cigarettes are deadly but they don’t want regulation there. They make too much money. Marijuana is competition. That’s why they have been so slow to legalize marijuana, not because they are afraid it may harm someone.



  40. TARTANATOR on October 9, 2023 at 8:58 am

    This needs to be legal everywhere in the world drink should be banned it kills people weed is harmless u can eat u don’t just have to smoke it



  41. Steven Henry on October 9, 2023 at 9:01 am

    Missed opportunities never surprise me!



  42. krowbar2009 on October 9, 2023 at 9:01 am

    Come on UK you know you want to.



  43. Gourav Sharma on October 9, 2023 at 9:04 am

    Stoners 🤟show love ❤



  44. Quantum Fine Arts And Fossils on October 9, 2023 at 9:04 am

    it is not just because the planet will be unlivable in a decade is it??



  45. Travis on October 9, 2023 at 9:04 am

    why?? its simple… $$$$$



  46. bAsem Seif on October 9, 2023 at 9:04 am

    Such a well spoken fellow



  47. Matt on October 9, 2023 at 9:05 am

    good and don’t forget psilocybin!!

    it’s excellent for consciousness



  48. Thomas Doubting on October 9, 2023 at 9:06 am

    Life is difficult to enjoy without weed after smoking it , end up a slave to it .



  49. Privatejose B32 on October 9, 2023 at 9:08 am

    England listen up



  50. cattleNhay (aka Eggman) on October 9, 2023 at 9:08 am

    Let farmers grow it, make bio diesel from the seeds..paper, bio degradable plastics, and 50’000 other products. But no, then the few owners of industry’s would loose billions and we can’t have that ( so they pay off the ones making laws to not allow it)
    Imagine if you could grow in your back yard and have enough to power your cars, tractor..heat your house for a year. It doesn’t take that much for a household.