Thai Ganja Digest

Links to consider. TGD is my weekly round up of news for the friends of cannabis everywhere -- with special attention paid to Thailand, where the cannabis legalization regime is the freest on earth.

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed — and hence clamorous to be led to safety — by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.” H.L. Mencken

Can The Thai Examiner become any more reactionary in their anti-cannabis positioning?

The headline, “Election a Referendum on Cannabis…” is false. The story that follows is one-sided in a way to evoke fear and anxiety about legalization in Thailand. There is no referendum on cannabis in Thailand; there are desperate politicians trying to scare voters. That's really all this is. For now.

This much is clear: The Thai Examiner has floated anti-scientific claims about the effects of cannabis and ginned up controversy surrounding its legalization. Very few positive sentences about cannabis have been published there.

1. The pioneering chemist Raphael Mechoulam, justly referred to as the Godfather of cannabis science, has died. Dr. Mechoulam dedicated his life to understanding the truth about cannabis.

He is best known as the scientist who discovered and isolated THC in Israel in 1964. He died peacefully on March 9^th, 2023; He was 92. A fellow scientist published an excellent tribute to Dr. Mechoulam in Molecules.

Two years ago, he was celebrating his birthday at the International Cannabis Conference in Jerusalem. There are many videos, including a documentary, to help us understand the originality of his research and the boldness of his observations of the positive health impacts of cannabis. Self-recommending.

2. Lollipops is coming (already here?) to Southeast Asia. Looks like a Thai company; its website shows signs of English-as-a-second -language and admits that its “farms” are in the Golden Triangle area in Thailand. After the confusing press release, maybe you can figure out the puzzle by visiting their site: https://lollipopfarm.store/

3. Of course more people are using cannabis as medicine. More people are using cannabis and getting well; yet, rather than see this as an encouraging sign and showing an eagerness to learn more, doctors are said to “warn” patients against it.

How many people have to benefit from its use before cannabis recovers from the false, legalistic distinction between medical and “recreational” use? The uncanny fate of a plant that can make the unhealthy well boggles the mind.

4. Bangkok Pete can always be counted on to deliver insight with his casual, inside-track-style videos. His take on weed in Bangkok is no exception.

5. Phuket’s 1^st Annual Cannabis Cup is scheduled for March 25^th. I will be there for the duration as an observer. If you see me, please say hello. I love meeting new friends of Thai Cannabis.

6. Sri Lanka is right across the water from Thailand. Will the island play follow the leader? President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced the appointment of an expert committee to examine the possibilities of producing cannabis – locally referred to as kansa or ganja – for export purposes.

Sadly, the story follows the framework of most international coverage of Thai Ganja over the past year. That journalism has stunk. All year. (With a few notable exceptions in the NYT, The Guardian and Vice.)

Now I think it is fair to assume that any account of strong pushback against cannabis is a fabrication of click-hungry journos phoning it in on cannabis. All Sri Lanka needs is a critical mass of cannabis friends, a political faction that's pro-cannabis and the courage to keep out western "assistance".

Come on Sri Lanka! This could be the economic spark you’ve been waiting for.

Btw, as the western consensus led you by the nose to its green nirvana of organic fertilizer that destroyed your country and magnified poverty for years to come, probably best to pass on their advice this time around.