Nine months after weed was decriminalized, popular tourist destination Phuket will light up this weekend with a cannabis event where the best buds will win.
The Phuket Cannabis Cup will go down Saturday at a hotel on Kata Beach. Hosted by the Phuket Cannabis Association, the event will feature a joint rolling race, showcase of buds throughout Thailand, panel discussions, and more.
There will be a competition to identify the best weed strains in four categories: indoor hybrid, indoor sativa, indoor indica, and greenhouse strains. They will be judged by eight weed veterans and long-time advocates including Highland founder Rattapon “Guide” Sanrak, Lex de Groot from Royal Queen Seed and Aram “Uncle Dam” Limsakul, who earned the nickname “father of medical weed” for his decades-long advocacy work.
Uncle Dam is also known for his now-famous KD Koh Tao, Thai landrace strain that was grown on the island himself.
Up to 50 weed farms will participate, according to Poonwarit Wangpattarawanich, president of the Phuket Cannabis Association. He said that there are about 1,200 licensed dispensaries on the island.
Reggae and dub collective Srirajah Rockers will perform as well as several DJs. Vendors will sell food and drinks at the event.
Billed as the first edition of Cannabis Cup in Phuket, it aims to set a standard for the industry and create friendly competition within the industry, which has grown significantly since cannabis was decriminalized June 9.
The event will run from 10:30am until 6pm on Saturday at the Pamookkoo Hotel on Kata Beach. Tickets purchased in advance are THB650 and THB850 at the door.