Police in northeastern Nakhon Phanom province yesterday burned nine TONS of seized marijuana, worth THB200 million (US$6 million) — the largest amount of weed Thailand has burned in the past decade.
On the annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (yup, it’s an actual day established by the United Nations), Nakhon Phanom Governor Somchai Witdumrong hosted a ceremony to discourage locals, particular youths, against the harms of drug use and/or dealing.
And what better way to do that than putting a match to enough pot for a million fatties.
Police said smugglers have, of late, been using routes from the country’s northeast, reported Matichon. Thus, its shared border with Laos makes Nakhon Phanom a high-risk province. In the past three months, three tons of marijuana have been seized in that province alone.
While police yesterday celebrated the giant blaze up, it’s worth noting that academics such as Dr. Weerachai Putthawong, an organic chemistry professor from Kasetsart University, have previously noted that breathing in smoke from the giant bonfire is no different than smoking marijuana.
But hey, at least they didn’t invite children to participate in the torching like Bueng Kan Province did in 2016.
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