- Title: Ready, set, roll! Thai man wins fastest joint-rolling contest
- Date: 26th March 2023
- Summary: PHUKET, THAILAND (MARCH 25, 2023) (REUTERS) PARTICIPANTS DASHING TO TABLE TO START ROLLING JOINTS VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS FILLING PAPER WITH GROUND CANNABIS PEOPLE WATCHING COMPETITORS ROLLING JOINTS PEOPLE WATCHING VARIOUS OF COMPETITORS SHREDDING CANNABIS TO GRIND IT HOST ANNOUNCING WINNER FOR FASTEST JOINT-ROLLER COMPETITION 'SPEEDY ROLLING' WINNER, ATIVAT JANMUANGTHAI,
- Embargoed: 9th April 2023 03:35
- Keywords: Phuket Cup cannabis fastest joint roller weed
- Location: PHUKET, THAILAND
- City: PHUKET, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001020725032023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
With nimble fingers and years of practice, Ativat Janmuangthai beat other cannabis enthusiasts to roll a perfect, one-gramme joint in 43 seconds on Saturday (March 25), becoming the fastest joint-roller in Thailand's Phuket.
"He's been rolling joints for five years, he can even roll joints blindfolded. He's very fast," said Saksorn Sotornkittirat, Ativat's friend who accompanied him to the first Phuket Cannabis Cup competition.
Apart from the title and trophy, the winner was also awarded a cash prize of 5000 baht ($146.67).
The contest was part of an inaugural event where enthusiasts and experts could gather and exchange opinions and knowledge with the aim of helping set a standard for Thailand's fledgling cannabis industry.
An international panel of judges was also invited to evaluate various cannabis strains, taking into consideration elements such as appearance, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, terpenes, flavor and genetic profiles.
Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalise cannabis last year, but within a week of the move issued a raft of rushed piecemeal regulations to curb its potential unchecked use, including by children.
Thailand's parliament concluded its final session on the cannabis draft bill before the election, set for May 14, but failed to endorse it, leaving the country without an umbrella law to regulate the use of the substance.
Cannabis advocates in Phuket recently banned together under the Phuket Cannabis Association, in hopes to create a stronger voice for the industry. With over 1000 licensed dispensaries now on Phuket island, Poonwarit Wangpatravanich, the president of the group, hopes regulating of laws pertaining to cannabis use will be hastened after national elections in May.
"Imagine what's going happen if people fly right to Thailand just because of that (Cannabis use). We're going to increase such a large amount of GDP in tourism for the whole (of) Thailand," he said. "The government should be very, very happy!"
(Production: Jorge Silva, Juarawee Kittisilpa) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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