The decriminalization of weed in Thailand is generating a lot of interest among young entrepreneurs

Thailand’s recent decision to decriminalize marijuana has inspired many young people who want to make their mark in the new and exciting industry.

Aljazeera spoke to some of the country’s residents who are witnessing a boom in cannabis products, from pre-rolled joints to bottles of kick-ass Sriracha.

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“My ‘Gen Z’ age group doesn’t really drink alcohol, but we smoke weed,” said Mada, a 21-year-old woman who works at a weed dispensary in eastern Thailand. Her view of cannabis contrasts with that of the Thai government, which says it legalized the plant to make it easier for growers and consumers to access cannabis for medicinal and culinary purposes.

Still, consumers and those who invest in weed are taking advantage of this newly adopted relaxed attitude, creating their own businesses through the convenience of their smartphones.

“Since the law changed, you see stories on Instagram about how many in my age group now have a new chance to make a living,” Mada said. As is the case with most businesses, it is becoming much easier to get an audience using social media. In the case of cannabis, these hashtags and offers are veiled (#saikiew, which means “green lifestyle”), but lead to profitable business ventures nonetheless.

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Although laws allow people interested in making money from cannabis to operate with relative freedom, experts expect that to change soon. The Thai government is under pressure to control the growth of cannabis and educate the public about the drug’s purpose under Thai law. They are also concerned about the effect of the plant on children and whether this new environment makes them more likely to access the drug.

However, it may be too late to control cannabis. The switch is flipped. “It’s interesting to see how society changes with the thought of ‘cha-ching’ (money),” said Chokwan “Kitty” Chopaka, a longtime cannabis advocate. “Suddenly a ‘junkie’ becomes a businessman, and a bedroom producer becomes a master producer.”