[앵커]
Thailand has legalized cannabis starting this month.
It seems that the intention is to attract more foreign tourists, but there is also the problem of misuse and abuse in some cases.
Korean tourists also need to be careful.
Correspondent Wonjang Kim from Bangkok will deliver.
[리포트]
‘Let’s Grow Cannabis Together’ The Thai government recommends cannabis.
The government is giving away 1 million cannabis seedlings for free.
[아누틴/태국 보건부 장관 : “집에서만 즐기세요. 직장에는 가져가지 마시구요! 그건 정부 정책이 아닙니다.”]
Thailand, which declared cannabis legalization earlier this month, now allows you to grow cannabis at home by downloading an app on your mobile phone.
800,000 households have already signed up.
E-cigarettes are still illegal in Thailand.
Such a sudden legalization of cannabis in Thailand has a hidden policy intention to attract US and European tourists.
The number of restaurants that add cannabis to their food has also increased significantly.
From cannabis fries to cannabis juice.
[“매운 샐러드와 계절 조미료에도 대마초가 들어있어요.”]
Street vendors, you and I, came out with cannabis.
The problem is the side effects.
Misuse and abuse are occurring one after another, most of them are teenagers.
[“짜오엔크룽병원에선 51세 남성이 숨졌습니다. 대마초를 피우다 가슴통증을 호소했고, 엘피티 병원에는 16세 미성년자가 대마초 과다 복용으로 중환자실에 있습니다.”]
In particular, in the case of Koreans, even if they inhale or possess marijuana from Thailand, they may be subject to criminal punishment.
[“얼마예요? (600바트입니다.)”]
As the corona quarantine is lifted, up to 500,000 Koreans are expected to visit Thailand this year, but cafes around tourist spots have already started to spread word of mouth.
[대마초 카페 사장 : “그럼요 한국사람들 오죠. 커플로 오거나 3명씩 친구들이 찾아 와요.”]
As the number of side effects increased, the Thai government opened a call center and announced that only one cannabis leaf per meal was allowed.
This is Wonjang Kim of KBS News from Bangkok.
Cinematography: Lee Yoon-min / Editing: Lee Tae-hee / Source: Ahn So-hyun
