In Bangkok’s Suan Phlu neighbourhood, teenager Toni has been summoned to help. A group of 10 Taiwanese tourists has swarmed his mother’s business, the Leaf Cannabis Cafe, and Toni, with English learnt at his international school, is patiently trying to talk them down.
What’s not clear is if the new administration will come down like a tonne of bricks or settle for giving the agreed rules the force of law and a bit more tampering around the edges. Move Forward’s position is less clear. It’s the only party committed to changing Thailand’s lèse-majesté laws, that make defaming, insulting or threatening the King, Queen or heir-apparent a crime punishable by a prison term.– but perhaps not so keen on rolling back marijuana use.
“All of these businesses have invested so much money – you can’t just suddenly say ‘No, it’s no longer allowed’.”