Belgium And Thailand Hit The Headlines Over Cannabis Coffee Shops

In an attempt to relax marijuana prohibitions in NATO and EU regions, Brussels hopes to soon open cannabis coffee shops, just like in Amsterdam. However, as Thailand decriminalizes marijuana, its health minister says they don’t want to attract “that” kind of tourist.

Cannabis coffee shops in Brussels?

Philippe Close, the socialist mayor of Brussels, compares smoking marijuana to sipping a glass of whisky. According to him, in Amsterdam, cannabis coffee shops specialize in different strains. In fact, patrons can choose whether they want a relaxing high to binge-watch TV, or a positive high to boost outdoor activities.

Close believes Brussels should also have cannabis coffee shops, just like they do in Amsterdam. He urges the city to open cannabis cafes where locals and visitors can legally buy and smoke weed. In fact, the mayor supports the idea of licensed locations where cannabis can be purchased, as well as making possession of up to three grams legal.

Speaking to the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, Close said he sees a joint like he sees a glass of whisky. Cannabis use for personal consumption became legal in Belgium in 2003. During his interview, the mayor calls for decriminalizing marijuana in Belgium as the first step toward legalization. He believes by legalizing cannabis, this could create a space to fight real drug problems.

Thailand doesn’t want cannabis tourists

Meanwhile, in Asia, Thailand largely decriminalized marijuana two months ago under new laws. However, Thailand’s health minister on Wednesday discouraged tourists from visiting the country simply to smoke weed. When asked about recreational marijuana use among international tourists, Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters:

We don’t welcome those kinds of tourists.

In 2018, Thailand was the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use. However, in June 2022, the entire plant was decriminalized in Thailand, leading to widespread recreational use.

However, despite the government’s pleas, cannabis cafés are the latest tourism offering in the country. In fact, cannabis businesses with special smoking rooms are a hit with locals and visitors alike. However, decriminalization is not the same as legalizing weed. Anyone caught in public smoking cannabis can face a three-month jail sentence or fines of up to $706.

Tourism picks up in Thailand

Anutin’s comments come at a time when international travelers return to the tourism-reliant country. In fact, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia expects between eight to 10 million visitors this year. Meanwhile, in 2021, the pandemic cut down international visitors to 428,000, compared to a record in 2019 of 40 million visitors.

When it comes to its cannabis policy, Thailand wants the $790 million industry built around medical and health benefits. However, as noted by CNN, Anutin did say that once there is a better understanding of the drug, recreational use could be explored again in the near future.

Meanwhile, Thailand’s policies relating to cannabis have drawn interest from the country’s neighbors, including Malaysia, which is currently studying the medical use of marijuana. In fact, CBD oil is well known for its medical properties.