Patong –
Relevant officials inspected cannabis shops on Bangla Road in Patong to check for licenses and rule infringements after a video clip of foreigners using a machine to blow cannabis smoke across the street went viral on social media.
On Friday night (August 18th) a team of Phuket Officials from the Kathu District Office, Patong Police, and the Kathu District Public Health Office inspected Bangla Road following the viral video. Cannabis shops on Bangla Road had their licenses checked and were reminded that smoking in shops is against the rules.
Weerawit Krueasombat, the president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association, told The Phuket Express that the foreigners in the video clip were making content promoting a new but unidentified cannabis shop near Phuket International Airport in Thalang which has just been opened. Police have already contacted them to come to the police station to be charged with various legal charges.
Mr. Chalermpong Sangdee, the Move Forward candidate for Phuket Constituency 2 told the Phuket Express “Officials are trying to manage proper usage of cannabis especially when it comes to owners and dealers who are foreigners.”
TPN Media notes that legally smoking in public or in shops, even cannabis shops, is against current rules and regulations. Technically, cannabis use is also restricted only to medical use and should require a licensed doctor to supervise any use. These rules, however, are fairly loose as cannabis is only decriminalized but not fully legal as politicians continue to debate over the law.
