You’ll find more sunshine and smiles in Thailand because of its colorful history with cannabis.
Today, we’ll hit up Thailand's northern hills, where cannabis in Thailand is believed to have originated. Then we shall dive into cannabis as a wonder herb and its ancient uses. We’ll even go through some fascinating facts about monks and temple stories tied to cannabis. There's much to learn about how this traditional Thai herb helped shape Thailand’s history and culture. So, let’s get started!
Image sourced from SawasdeeClinic
Origins of Cannabis Culture
The cannabis plant has always been a local herb. Its history in Thailand is believed to have several different origins. For one, it can be traced back to the Hmong Hill tribes, a small ethnic group from China who settled in Northern Thailand's mountains where Cannabis sativa L., was grown to make clothes from cannabis and hemp fiber. Another belief is that cannabis made its way to Thailand from India, which is probably why Kanja, the Thai word for cannabis, is similar to India's Ganja.
Image Sourced from DrugLibrary.Org
Ganja is deeply rooted in Thai culture and history. For centuries, Thai society has benefited from it as a potent medicinal herb, a key ingredient in traditional soups and drinks, and a raw material for fabrics, ropes, and various other things.
Thai Traditional Medicine
Cannabis has been used in Thai traditional medicine for at least 300 years. An accredited Thai traditional doctor, Pongaraya Butchantha, explained how cannabis is important in Thai holistic medicine. He said people used to add dried and powdered cannabis to soups and curries to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure. Cannabis also helped promote deep sleep, which is essential for the body to rebalance and heal itself. Another expert, Dr. Supaporn Pitiporn of Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, says that cannabis works well with other herbs to make them more effective while reducing side effects.
Ganja was such an essential aspect of Thai life that every part of the plant was used. Kway teeow rua, also known as boat-noodle soup, was traditionally seasoned with a few cannabis leaves for an extra kick of flavor and energy. This recipe was even mentioned in a book published in 1908, Mae Krua Bpak, Thailand's Oldest cookbook.
Image Sourced from ChiangMaiCityLife.com
Those who felt the symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were given cannabis herbal teas or tinctures. Cannabis was also used in massage oils and astringents as a muscle relaxant to treat pain, stress, and fatigue.
It was a cure for almost everyone, from tired workers and mothers giving birth to older people with chronic illnesses and regular people who were sick. Cannabis has been one of Thailand's miracle herbs for centuries!
Recreation and Relaxation
Back then, smoking marijuana in Thailand was as common as grabbing a beer after a long day. While laborers would smoke to unwind, artists and musicians would use it to spark their creativity. Even royalty, noblemen, and ordinary people considered it a common activity.
The history of cannabis in Thailand shows that cannabis could even be accepted in a place of worship. Buddhist temples, such as Wat Jantrawas, had murals showing monks and people from all walks of life using cannabis in the past.
Bongs and Thai Sticks
It's no surprise that the ubiquitous smoking tool Bong's name originated in Thailand. "Bang" traditionally refers to a bamboo container. Back then, Thai people smoked cannabis from bongs calibrated to their preferred amounts. It was a brilliant use of technology that weed smokers still get to enjoy today.
The Thai stick is another cannabis product that made Thailand famous. A bamboo stick holds a bundle of seedless cannabis buds wrapped in cannabis leaves. These worked like cigars. In some cases, people even dip the Thai stick in cannabis oil before taking the bamboo stick out and lighting it. Needless to say, the Thai sticks were strong and are still regarded as some of the best marijuana in the 1970s.
Thailand Becomes a Cannabis Powerhouse
Even after Thailand's 1937 Marijuana Act outlawed marijuana sales, possession, and use, cannabis usage still persisted. With no local or moral stigma attached and considered no more than a medicinal or cooking herb, the implementation of the act was difficult. This attitude towards cannabis was not only in Thailand but in certain parts of Southeast Asia as well.
The height of America's Vietnam brought over 50,000 American military personnel to Thailand. Scores of new hotels, restaurants, and bars were built to serve the waves of free-spending American G.I.s, causing foreign funding to flow into the country. The GIs, while fighting a war were also looking for a piece of mind. And the peace of mind they found, as they discovered the legendary Thai Stick.
Demand for the healing Thai sticks grew as they became popular amongst the tired, war-shocked, and hurting soldiers. The word about its potency spread like wildfire and reached America and the West. Thus the boom in Thailand's cannabis economy began.
Thailand became a cannabis powerhouse and was Southeast Asia’s major cultivator and producer of cannabis in the 1970s and 1980s. Thai weed smugglers risked their lives to bring highly-prized Thai sticks from Krungthep to America. At the heart of this commercial boom was a province in Thailand slowly rising from being one of the poorest of its time. North of Udon on the banks of the Mekong was Isan.
The Thai authorities further increased their efforts to stop cannabis use and trade. Thailand joined the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and banned all cannabis use under the 1979 Narcotics Act. Although the trade for Thai Sticks dried up, the hindrances to enforcement remained the same.
Thailand and Cannabis Legalization
In 2019, Thailand was the first in Asia to legalize medical marijuana. Then in 2022, whilst recovering from the pandemic, Thailand finally saw the social, cultural, and economic benefits that it has historically benefited from and decriminalized cannabis.
In summary
Although Thailand's decision to decriminalize marijuana may have been considered bold or surprised the rest of the world, it had been a long time coming for generations of ganjapreneurs. Despite some of today's negative reputation, cannabis has had its share of positive impacts on Thai history and culture. From its medicinal uses to being a staple in ancient cuisine and even its recreational use, cannabis has historically been a part of Thai life.
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