cannabis shops are counting down to prepare to fold up their mats. Nearly 1,000 shops in Chiang Mai will go bankrupt if the government brings cannabis back onto the drug list. Pointing out that the damage to the entire system is hundreds of millions. Those that can be opened may need to be controlled by a pharmacist.
On May 15, 2024, reporters reported that At Chiang Mai Province There are many cannabis shop operators. Some shops have been open for more than 2 years after cannabis was unlocked according to the cannabis liberalization policy. Business is going well. But they may have to go out of business soon after the government prepares to propose bringing cannabis back to the list of category 5 drugs and emphasizing medical use.
Chiang Mai Province is the main tourist city. There are 1,000 registered cannabis shops, with an investment of not less than 100 million baht if the business closes. Many people throughout the system will lose their jobs, including employees and cannabis farmers. As for business owners, they prepare to fold up their mats and take them home.
Mr. Chisanupong Phuriroj, 29 years old, owner of a cannabis shop, Impala 64, Nimmanhaemin Road, Soi 11, a famous tourist area in Mueang Chiang Mai District revealed that in Chiang Mai there are nearly 1,000 cannabis shops, each with an investment of tens of thousands to millions of baht. What will happen if cannabis reverts to a Schedule 5 drug is that employees will lose their jobs. Some shops may have 1-2 people, and entrepreneurs like themselves are just preparing to go bankrupt.
“Personally, I think that if the cannabis law is amended These stores may exist. But it must be controlled by a pharmacist. But it is believed that the market value is not as high as for recreational cannabis use where people from all over the world come here because they want to try Thai cannabis. Because America itself has only recently had cannabis legalized for a while. And many other countries have already opened up. As for our current costs in Thailand, they are lower due to trade competition. Therefore, it is popular among foreign tourists. This matter does not only affect storefronts. Investors in cannabis farms that resell cannabis to retailers are also likely to be affected. I want the government to reconsider this matter carefully. If you want to do it, you must find a way to compensate the entrepreneurs as well. Because the impact is quite large. And there are definitely thousands and tens of thousands of people unemployed.”
