Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (19 August 2022)

Thailand & Pattaya News, from Fabulous 103fm (19 August 2022)

Finally some details on the new laws currently being passed through Thailand’s parliament regarding Cannabis. Following the almost blanket legalisation of the weed here in June, the new regulations have been keenly awaited by the public, and see a ban on the sale of product through vending machines OR online, along with a ban on any form of advertising cannabis OR and cannabis based products. As the bill approaches its second reading it is expected to allow households to grow up to 15 plants at any one time with free registration online essential. For Hemp growers, the regulations will be different. Hemp, the product of the male plant, is used from manufacturing and growers will be allowed 5 rai of land used for HOUSEHOLD USE. Medical organisations such as hospitals, doctors, dentists and traditional medicine practitioners will be allowed to process the weed without permission needed BUT licensing will be required for those who grow, extract or process as a commercial business for wholesale or retail. Export without a permit is not allowed and commercial growers must be Thai nationals over the age of 20. Sales to those under the age of 20, pregnant women or women knowingly breastfeeding will also be banned as will sales close in proximity to any form of educational institution, temples or public parks. This according to the Public Health Minister who has been responsible for the committee creating the new bill, which also bans smoking in any form of eatery, public place or religious place of worship.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, police have arrested a man accused of being a part of the gang leading illegal immigrants from Burma, through Thailand to work in Malaysia. 32 were listed as illegals after 4 died and others were injured in a road accident. He was denying involvement but those who had paid upward of 15K for the uncomfortable secret ride pointed to him as the gang organiser.

The royal irrigation department has warned of potential flooding from rivers from today through to mid next week across much of the country as storms are expected to continue, rivers rise and reservoirs forced to open dams to reduce water levels. From the north to the south and including our own region. Monsoons are expected to see heavy storms and those living in low lying areas are advised to prepare for flooding.

Meanwhile at home, a Kuwaiti motorbiker, riding with four other friends in the early hours of yesterday was seriously injured after hitting a parked vehicle. With his pals refusing to assist the police in their enquiries, all bikes, assumed to be rented, were impounded . The crash, off Jomtien beach road, saw all 5 reported as not wearing safety helmets and being rude and verbally abusive to police AND the injured man initially refusing medical attention to his wounds. Checks on their visa status were being done yesterday with immigration as locals reported that the men had been racing just before 4 am, before the crash.

From the daft, to the innocent in the city as in a Soi Buakhao side soi, a Thai couple on a bike disappeared into a hole. As with many of the numerous unfinished road work projects in the region, the road was closed but had a pathway created for pedestrians and small bikes. That path, according to the couple, collapsed, seeing them slide into a 3 metre deep hole in the road. Passersby rescued them, the bike was left in the hole and both needed medical treatment.

Despite weather predictions of rain, the Pattaya Music Festival fires up again tonight, Friday, and tomorrow, this time on beach road in Pattaya which, once again, will be closed to traffic. If anything like the past 2 weekends, the event will be a winner with top bands appearing and a party style atmosphere which has become popular with domestic tourists here.

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