The Irony of Songkran: Thailand's Contradictory Stance on Public Safety
r/CannabisThailand Newsletter - Issue #92
Sawadee Everyone,
Some of our more astute readers may have noticed my absence last week. Yes, it coincided with Songkran, but there was another reason for the break, directly tied to the subject of this newsletter.
I chose to delay discussing some uncomfortable truths during the festive merriment of Songkran. Why dampen the spirits, right? LOL.
Particularly, I'm addressing the Thai government's contradictory stance on cannabis, treating the populace as if they need constant guidance while endorsing a festival like Songkran, infamously known as "The 7 Dangerous Days" due to its high incidence of fatalities and injuries stemming from vehicle accidents, many alcohol-related.
Consider this: the government promotes a holiday notorious for leading to a significant uptick in violence, crime, and hundreds of accidents, yet during the same period, cannabis-related incidents almost disappear from the media radar. This oversight inadvertently highlights how minor the cannabis issue truly is, overshadowed by the larger dangers of Songkran festivities.
Here’s an example of some headlines from just the last few days of this year’s Songkran festivities.
6 Thai men arrested for attacking 2 foreigners during Songkran
Thai man and foreigner clash over water splash dispute
Songkran celebration turns violent in Phitsanulok with gang attack
Female police save woman from drunk foreigner during Songkran
Man’s ear nearly cut off during Songkran celebration in Chon Buri
2 Thai men arrested for sexually assaulting women at Songkran
Couple caught having sex in sea at Patong Beach in Phuket
Foreign man drowns while retrieving water gun in canal in Bangkok
Moreover, industry experts anticipate a doubling of alcohol sales this April, fueled by the government's push to extend Songkran to attract more tourists. Yet, amidst all this, the dangers of cannabis are loudly touted—dangers which are largely overblown.
I love Songkran and have had incredible experiences celebrating it across Thailand. However, it feels hypocritical to criticize cannabis for public health risks while promoting a holiday rife with alcohol abuse and its consequent dangers.
The logical consistency would demand either a ban on Songkran, which I am certainly not proposing, or an admission that Thailand’s position on cannabis prohibition isn't really about public health—a stance I firmly support.
If public health were truly a priority, Thailand might not have one of the highest suicide rates in the region or one of the lowest ratios of mental health professionals to patients. If public health was a major concern, one would think that the government would shift funds from buying submarines that it doesn’t need to mental health where they are woefully understaffed.
With mental health crises often tied to substance abuse, it's ironic that the most accessible 'treatments' are alcohol and meth—substances that contribute significantly to the nation's addiction issues and only exacerbate mental health problems.
Thailand’s government, as well as many Thais, view this as just one more drug for people to get addicted to rather than realizing that cannabis if often a substitute for other drugs.
Investment firm TD Cowen reports a likely decline in global alcohol sales as more people turn to cannabis as a safer alternative. Preliminary studies also suggest CBD could help reduce meth relapse rates. Even a modest success rate in combating meth addiction with cannabis would be a step in the right direction, far better than the status quo which includes arresting people and forcing them into “rehab” which is basically just military-style prison.
I’m not suggesting that cannabis will cure alcoholism or meth addiction but if I was the parent of a 20 year old child today and they asked me if they could drink beer or smoke a joint, I would be handing them my lighter and a fat doob.
It's time for the government rethink their approach. Rather than condemning cannabis based on outdated prejudices, we should embrace its potential benefits, especially if we're serious about tackling public health issues. The inconsistencies in the current policy do more than undermine credibility; they highlight missed opportunities for real progress.
Stay lifted and enlightened,
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