In Thailand, hold the drinks and pass the cannabis

At a latest banquet in a sublime Bangkok residence, a matronly socialite unveiled a tray of exquisitely packaged desserts for dessert, proudly exclaiming, “blissful brownies — such enjoyable, good with ice-cream, do have one.” The important thing ingredient, hashish, ensured the VIP visitors went house in pleasantly woozy type.

Not way back, passing round marijuana-laced brownies in Thailand might result in a legal cost and a heavy superb — or perhaps a jail time period for promoting such merchandise. In lots of different Asian international locations, it might probably nonetheless finish in imprisonment. But in Thailand, whereas methamphetamine and different illicit substances are on the entrance line of the federal government’s promised “battle on medication,” hashish — or “ganja” because it’s popularly identified right here — is driving excessive as the brand new “glamour drug” of selection, formally accredited and even promoted.