- Title: From bubble tea to toothpaste: Thais embrace cannabis products
- Date: 27th July 2022
- Summary: BANGKOK AND CHONBURI, THAILAND (RECENT) (REUTERS) (MUTE) SPLITSCREEN SHOWING CANNABIS INFUSED DRINKS (TOP LEFT), CANNABIS LEAF SOAP (TOP RIGHT), CANNABIS SATIVA OIL TOOTHPASTE (BOTTOM LEFT), AND CANNABIS INFUSED PANDAN DESSERT (BOTTOM RIGHT) BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - JULY 19, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KANOMSIAM STORE STAFF ADDING BLENDED DRIED CANNABIS LEAVES TO MELTED BUTTER IN PAN AND MIXING NORMAL PANDAN-FLAVORED DESSERT ON RACK / CANNABIS INFUSED DESSERT BATTER SIMMERING IN PAN KANOMSIAM POP-UP STORE STAFF POURING CANNABIS-INFUSED PANDAN DESSERT BATTER ONTO DESSERT PAN DESSERT PAN BEING FILLED / HAND CLOSING LID TIMER ALARM GOING OFF HAND OPENING LID TO SHOW CANNABIS-INFUSED PANDAN-FLAVORED DESSERT VARIOUS OF HAND COATING DESSERT WITH MELTED BUTTER VARIOUS OF HAND PICKING UP DESSERT AND PLACING ON RACK VARIOUS OF CANNABIS-INFUSED DESSERT ON RACK OWNER OF KANOMSIAM STORE, KREEPHET HANPONGPIPAT, 34, STANDING AND TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) OWNER OF KANOMSIAM STORE, KREEPHET HANPONGPIPAT, 34, SAYING: "It's like tapping into a fresh and interesting territory, it's worth a lot and it's new. I wouldn't consider it a 'red ocean' (highly competitive) market just yet. But I believe the environment of this industry is a friendly one, all the vendors can work side by side together, so I decided to give it a try." STAFF PUTTING CANNABIS-INFUSED PANDAN DESSERT INTO BOX CANNABIS-INFUSED PANDAN DESSERT ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) OWNER OF KANOMSIAM STORE, KREEPHET HANPONGPIPAT, 34, SAYING: "The expectations from (some) Thais regarding cannabis are different from reality. Cannabis is more than just getting high, it could be a ‘vitamin’ as well. Thais' perception towards it is that it would get you high and smile after consuming. That's not what cannabis does only, there's more to it than that." STAFF PACKING DESSERT BOX INTO BAG AS CUSTOMER WAITS (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 29-YEAR-OLD CUSTOMER, ANYARIN ARIYARUNGLIDCHAI, SAYING: "When I first bought them and ate them, I felt it helped me sleep more soundly. I feel I can get proper deep sleep (after eating them).†BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - JULY 20, 2022) (REUTERS) HANDS SQUEEZING TOOTHPASTE ONTO TOOTHBRUSH VARIOUS OF CANNABIS TOOTHPASTE CUSTOMER, NIKOM RIANTHONG, BRUSHING HIS TEETH NIKOM ENTERING 'CHANNHERB' STORE, AND WALKING TOWARDS SHELF OF CANNABIS SATIVA OIL TOOTHPASTE CANNABIS SATIVA OIL TOOTHPASTE ON DISPLAY ON SHELF VARIOUS OF NIKOM TALKING TO STORE OWNER AND HOLDING TOOTHPASTE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) CANNABIS TOOTHPASTE CUSTOMER, NIKOM RIANTHONG, SAYING: "I have receding gums and often got gingivitis. After using the Channherb toothpaste, my teeth feel cleaner and all the gum diseases that I used to have went away.†NIKOM TALKING TO CHANNHERB STORE OWNER, SURAWUT SAMPHANT (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) CHANNHERB STORE OWNER, SURAWUT SAMPHANT, SAYING: "We have a high number of customers returning to buy more of the product. It is not just the CBD (cannabidiol) that is the highlight, we also have other herbal extract ingredients in the toothpaste as well. Now, with all the herbs combined with the cannabis oil extract, the product has piqued even more interest (from customers)." HAND PUTTING TOOTHPASTE ON SHELF BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - JULY 6, 2022) (REUTERS) THAI PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER ANUTIN CHARNVIRAKUL WALKING OUT FROM ELEVATOR (SOUNDBITE) (English) THAI PUBLIC HEALTH MINISTER ANUTIN, CHARNVIRAKUL, SAYING: "I hope to see people getting rich out of doing all these products in a positive way. And again, I reiterate that my policy on cannabis is only focusing on medical purpose and healthcare, and that's all. We can't encourage the use of cannabis in the other ways." BANGKOK, THAILAND (RECENT - JUNE 29, 2022) (REUTERS) CANNABIS LEAF ACNE SOAP WITH HEMP SEED OIL BRIGHTENING GEL AND DRIED CANNABIS LEAVES ON DISPLAY CANNABIS PLANT PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF K&B COSMETIC CO. LTD, KEDKARN NILATAT, SITTING BESIDE CANNABIS ACNE SOAP PRODUCT (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER OF K&B COSMETIC CO. LTD, KEDKARN NILATAT, SAYING: "We launched this product after the cannabis law eased (in 2021), allowing companies to extract (cannabis) components (for cosmetic use). The sales were static but our business partner wanted to keep it on the shelf for an extended period of time. After the recent de-criminalisation (of cannabis), we were quite surprised that the sales climbed up by 20 to 30%." DRIED CANNABIS LEAVES AND CANNABIS LEAF ACNE SOAP KEDKARN OBSERVING WORKER WORKING VARIOUS OF WORKER PACKING SOAP PACKETS INTO BOX VARIOUS OF SOAP BOXES, PACKAGING READING (English): "CANNABIS LEAF SOAP" CHONBURI, THAILAND (RECENT - JUNE 25, 2022) (REUTERS) CANNABIS INFUSED TEA, COFFEE, AND BUBBLE MILK TEA ON WOODEN TRAY CHONBURI, THAILAND (RECENT - JUNE 26, 2022) (REUTERS) STAFF'S HAND DROPPING CANNABIS TEA BAGS INTO POT VARIOUS OF TEA BAGS BOILING IN POT MARIJUANA-THEMED STICKERS ON CONTAINER VARIOUS OF STAFF POURING CANNABIS-INFUSED TEA MIXTURE INTO CONTAINER STAFF CARRYING CONTAINER AND PLACING IT ON SHELF IN STORE CHONBURI, THAILAND (RECENT - JUNE 25, 2022) (REUTERS) CUSTOMER STANDING AND LOOKING AT MENU CANNABIS-INFUSED DRINK MENU ON BOARD STAFF POURING CANNABIS-INFUSED TEA MIXTURE INTO MEASURING CUP VARIOUS OF STAFF POURING CANNABIS-INFUSED TEA MIXTURE INTO CUP STORE STAFF MEMBERS AND OWNER WORKING CANNABIS-INFUSED MILK TEA BEING POURED INTO CUP OF BOBA PEARLS STAFF CLOSING LID OF BUBBLE MILK TEA STAFF HANDING BUBBLE MILK TEA TO DELIVERY DRIVER WAITING AT STOREFRONT VARIOUS OF DEK-CHA STORE OWNER POURING COFFEE SHOT INTO CANNABIS-INFUSED TEA (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) OWNER OF 'DEK-CHA' DRINK STORE, NITISIT WONGSASIRIWATTHANA, 33, SAYING: "We view it as additional choices to our (drink) menu, it's a frenzy, a trend. Cannabis has its own benefits when used correctly and in the right amount. The leaves barely have any of the psychoactive components, the amount is very, very low. When used correctly, it can also help improve health as well. So, we came up with the drink menu for customers who focus on their health." CHONBURI, THAILAND (RECENT - JUNE 26, 2022) (REUTERS) STAFF HANDING OUT CANNABIS-INFUSED TEA HAND GRABBING TEA CUSTOMER SITTING AND DRINKING CANNABIS-INFUSED TEA (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 32-YEAR-OLD CUSTOMER, PAKPOOM "CHAMP" CHAROENBOONNA, SAYING: "Personally, it tastes like a typical tea. It's not the same as those Chinese tea though, it smells like some sort of herb." VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF DEK-CHA DRINK STALL
- Embargoed: 10th August 2022 01:58
- Keywords: Anutin Charnvirakul Thai agriculture cannabis dessert drinks economy herbal infused legal legalize marijuana oil thailand toothpaste weed
- Location: BANGKOK, CHONBURI, THAILAND
- City: BANGKOK, CHONBURI, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001334620072022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: From cannabis-infused dessert, bubble tea, to even toothpaste -- businesses in Thailand are cashing-in on a consumer frenzy for all things marijuana following a recent easing on laws.
In 2018, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalise marijuana for medical use and research. Last year, it allowed cannabis extracts and leaves to be used in cosmetics and food and beverages, prompting businesses to develop and launch new consumer products.
Now Thailand is banking on developing cannabis as a cash crop and building a lucrative local industry by legalising the growing and private consumption of the entire plant in June this year, the first Asian country to do so.
Bangkok dessert shop, Kanomsiam, is one of the first to jump onto the cannabis bandwagon by adding dried cannabis leaves into its traditional pandan-flavoured pancakes.
"It's like tapping into a fresh and interesting territory, it's worth a lot and it's new,†said shop owner, Kreephet Hanpongpipat.
The shop now has a steady base of regulars who are willing to pay 170bht ($4.61) for a set of six of these shiny green pancakes since their launch in the middle of last year.
Kreephet is hopeful that sales will pick up soon following the decriminalisation.
Nikom Rianthong started brushing his teeth with Channherb, a local toothpaste brand that uses cannabis sativa oil extract, two months ago. He said the effect was immediate.
"I have receding gums and often got gingivitis. After using the Channherb toothpaste, my teeth feel cleaner and all the gum diseases that I used to have went away,†said Nikom, adding he won't be going back to other brands.
Brand owner Surawut Samphant explained that he decided to use cannabis sativa oil extract when he came up with the formula in April, because cannabis, among other local herbs, has long been used by traditional medical practitioners to help mitigate inflammatory symptoms.
"We have a high number of customers returning to buy more of the product. It is not just the CBD (cannabidiol) that is the highlight, we also have other herbal extract ingredients in the toothpaste as well. Now, with all the herbs combined with the cannabis oil extract, the product has piqued even more interest," he said.
Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul who is the main driver behind the policy, estimates Thailand’s cannabis industry to be valued at over $3 billion within the next five years.
"I want to see people getting rich out of doing these products in a positive way," he told Reuters.
Thailand hastily issued a raft of new regulations for cannabis use in June after the long-planned decriminalisation raised alarm at the potential for unchecked use of the substance anywhere and by anyone - including children.
"My policy on cannabis is only focusing on medical purposes and health care. That's all. We can't encourage the use of cannabis in the other ways.â€
Officially, commercial products approved by the food and drug regulator can contain cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical in cannabis that does not make users high.
But the regulator limits the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the active ingredient that gets users high - in any cannabis product to just 0.2%.
Anutin said that there were public health laws that can prevent recreational use while a cannabis bill is being deliberated in parliament.
Thai brand K&B Cosmetic Co. Ltd’s Cannabis Leaf Acne Soap also benefited from the government’s recent drive to promote cannabis.
"We launched this product after the cannabis law eased (in 2021), allowing companies to extract (cannabis) components (for cosmetic use)….After the recent decriminalisation, we were quite surprised that the sales climbed up by 20 to 30%," said product developer Kedkarn Nilalat.
A bubble tea chain store in Thailand's eastern Chonburi province has also joined the cannabis fever by creating a special menu of cannabis-infused drinks since the law allowed the leaves to be used in food and drinks.
"It is a frenzy, a trend. Cannabis has its own benefits when used correctly and in the right amount,†store owner, 33-year-old Nitisit Wongsasiriwatthana.
"Personally, it tastes like a typical tea. It's not the same as those Chinese tea though, it smells like some sort of herb," said Pakpoom Charoenbunna, 32, while drinking his cannabis tea, adding that the concoction helps him sleep.
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