US tourist’s cannabis stunt goes up in smoke
An American tourist’s madcap marketing stunt has caused a stir in Thailand.
Angkhan Vorac Chhieng owns a cannabis store in the US and decided to promote the stoner lifestyle in Phuket.
He used a ‘weed blower’ fog machine to pump out huge clouds of cannabis smoke on strolling tourists in Phuket’s nightlife district.
After a video of the incident went viral, it caught the attention of Thai authorities.
He was forced to apologise in a video message.
In Thailand cannabis shops are legal and regulated but smoking pot in public is a crime.
It didn’t appear he had actually broken any specific laws.
It still sparked an investigation by Phuket Provincial Police.
In the video message Chhieng said it was simply to promote his own marijuana business and apologised for causing offence.
He has since left Thailand and according to police will likely be banned from re-entering in the future.
Thailand cannabis was criminalised a year ago.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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