Thai school children in the rural province of Bueng Kan yesterday had a big learning day outside the classroom when they got to study about marijuana — and possibly how it could make them feel — by helping police burn the seized leaves.
The children were invited to participate in the province’s ceremony to destroy eight tons of seized marijuana worth THB120 million. These leaves were confiscated from 261 cases in the past two years.
Of course, the photos of children burning weed sparked concerns from academics such as Dr. Weerachai Putthawong, an organic chemistry professor from Kasetsart University, who said that breathing in the smoke from burned leaves is no different than smoking marijuana.
But Bueng Karn Governor Pongsak Preechawit said the children only participated in the beginning. They were taken away from the area immediately after they got to snap a cool photo.
He said the objective was to teach the children about the effects of drugs, Sanook reported.
