For 24 years of Rittipong “Beer” Dachkul’s life, weed could not be purchased legally. So camping out for the final few hours it was forbidden by law was worth it when, at 9:09am today, he became one of the first people to purchase it – fully legally.
“I’m happy about today,” he said at Highland Cafe this morning, where he was the first customer after camping out since 9:40pm last night. “I don’t have to hide to use weed anymore.”
Weed is legal Thursday but please mind the smell: Thai health officials
Several dozen people were in a growing line when Highland Cafe opened at 9am, one of many dispensaries now selling marijuana after its forbidden status ended at the stroke of midnight.
Nine strains were available at prices starting per gram at THB450 for a stoney Indica called Sunset Sherbert or functional sativa nugs of OG X Bubblegum. At the high end, Marcud Sugarcane, a sativa, sold for THB700.
Highland Cafe prohibits people from smoking inside or outside the premises.
Just yesterday, the first reading of a bill to liberalize cannabis consumption sailed through parliament in a 370:7 vote with 23 abstentions.
While using marijuana is now allowed, the government strongly encourages people to do so for medicinal or other “valid” purposes. But the effective result is the same: It is fully legal to…