420 weed party plan stokes ire

The opposition is mounting to a cannabis-smoking event planned for Thursday in the Khao San Road area of Bangkok as the date, April 20, aligns with the “420” celebration of cannabis culture around the world.

Assoc Prof Phiphat Nonthnathorn, president of the Association of Researchers of Thailand (ART), and Prasitchai Nunual, an activist from a group calling itself Writing Thailand’s Cannabis Future, shared their concerns about the event sending the wrong message about marijuana, which could prompt even stronger opposition to the drug’s recent reclassification.

Assoc Prof Phiphat urged the organiser of the event, dubbed “Khaosan420”, to rethink the decision, especially given how the issue of legalising cannabis in Thailand has stirred up heated debates and raised fears about the…