Latest news with #Hmong
The Star
4 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Thailand's changing cannabis rules leave farmers in a tough spot
Thailand is expected to draft rules requiring that each dispensary has a doctor on-site; it might even move to reclassify cannabis as a Category 5 narcotic. - The Nation BANGKOK: When Thailand became the first South-East Asian nation to decriminalise cannabis, in 2022, it ignited a 'green rush', swiftly reshaping the economic landscape and challenging long-held cultural norms. Dispensaries proliferated in urban centres such as Bangkok, ballooning to more than 10,000 across the country. But the agricultural communities in the lush northern countryside are perhaps benefiting the most from the burgeoning industry–assuming the government doesn't shut the whole thing down. In the mountains of northern Thailand, which are blessed with an ideal climate and fertile soil, generations of Hmong and other ethnic minorities have long tended the land, preserving an intimate knowledge of indigenous plants and sustainable cultivation practices. Historically these communities were linked to illicit opium cultivation, before they shifted to more wholesome crops including corn, tea and vegetables starting in the late 1960s. Legal cannabis, a more than US$1 billion a year industry in Thailand, offered them a lucrative pivot these past few years. Now the industry has been thrown into chaos after the Thai government announced an abrupt legislative backtrack in late June. The country moved to restrict cannabis use to medicinal purposes by requiring prescriptions and to cap volumes at a 30-day supply per customer. Keen to crack down on a surge in cannabis tourism, smuggling and underage recreational smoking, Thailand is also expected to draft rules requiring that each dispensary has a doctor on-site; it might even move to reclassify the herb as a Category 5 narcotic. With stricter controls on sales and distribution ahead, the mountainous communities and the operations' backers are bracing for real pain, from lower demand to widespread unemployment. Some Hmong farmers worry they'll have to revert to less profitable and dirtier crops, such as corn, where farmers traditionally burn the fields after harvest, contributing to northern Thailand's worsening air pollution. Still, Chokwan Kitty Chopaka, president of Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future, an advocacy group, is hopeful the agricultural communities won't give up the practice altogether. 'The Hmong people have always been the keepers of seeds,' she says. 'Hopefully they will continue to keep it safe.' - Bloomberg
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Thailand's changing cannabis rules leave farmers in a tough spot
Thailand's cannabis industry has been thrown into chaos after the Thai government announced an abrupt legislative backtrack in June. BANGKOK – When Thailand became the first South-east Asian nation to decriminalise cannabis, in 2022, it ignited a 'green rush', swiftly reshaping the economic landscape and challenging long-held cultural norms. Dispensaries proliferated in urban centres such as Bangkok, ballooning to more than 10,000 across the country. But the agricultural communities in the lush northern countryside are perhaps benefiting the most from the burgeoning industry–assuming the government doesn't shut the whole thing down. In the mountains of northern Thailand, which are blessed with an ideal climate and fertile soil, generations of Hmong and other ethnic minorities have long tended the land, preserving an intimate knowledge of indigenous plants and sustainable cultivation practices. Historically these communities were linked to illicit opium cultivation, before they shifted to more wholesome crops including corn, tea and vegetables starting in the late 1960s. Legal cannabis, a more than US$1 billion (S$1.28 billion) a year industry in Thailand, offered them a lucrative pivot these past few years. Now the industry has been thrown into chaos after the Thai government announced an abrupt legislative backtrack in late June. The country moved to restrict cannabis use to medicinal purposes by requiring prescriptions and to cap volumes at a 30-day supply per customer. Keen to crack down on a surge in cannabis tourism, smuggling and underage recreational smoking, Thailand is also expected to draft rules requiring that each dispensary has a doctor on-site; it might even move to reclassify the herb as a Category 5 narcotic. With stricter controls on sales and distribution ahead, the mountainous communities and the operations' backers are bracing for real pain, from lower demand to widespread unemployment. Some Hmong farmers worry they'll have to revert to less profitable and dirtier crops, such as corn, where farmers traditionally burn the fields after harvest, contributing to northern Thailand's worsening air pollution. Still, Ms Chokwan Kitty Chopaka, president of Writing Thailand's Cannabis Future, an advocacy group, is hopeful the agricultural communities won't give up the practice altogether. 'The Hmong people have always been the keepers of seeds,' she says. 'Hopefully they will continue to keep it safe.' Bloomberg
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Thailand's Changing Cannabis Rules Leave Farmers in a Tough Spot
Businessweek Economics With the Southeast Asian nation moving to recriminalize the drug after just three years, the mountainous communities that grow it are bracing for real pain. When Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to decriminalize cannabis, in 2022, it ignited a 'green rush,' swiftly reshaping the economic landscape and challenging long-held cultural norms. Dispensaries proliferated in urban centers such as Bangkok, ballooning to more than 10,000 across the country. But the agricultural communities in the lush northern countryside are perhaps benefiting the most from the burgeoning industry—assuming the government doesn't shut the whole thing down. In the mountains of northern Thailand, which are blessed with an ideal climate and fertile soil, generations of Hmong and other ethnic minorities have long tended the land, preserving an intimate knowledge of indigenous plants and sustainable cultivation practices. Historically these communities were linked to illicit opium cultivation, before they shifted to more wholesome crops including corn, tea and vegetables starting in the late 1960s.
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
‘Hmong Canada Day' event in Waterloo Region celebrates almost 50 years in the country
A first-of-its-kind event was held in Waterloo Region on Sunday, for the Hmong community to celebrate almost 50 years in Canada. A first-of-its-kind event was held in Waterloo Region on Sunday, for the Hmong community to celebrate almost 50 years in Canada. Hmong people are an ethnic minority with ancestral roots mainly from Laos, Thailand and a few other Southeast Asian countries. The community gathered at Breslau Community Centre for a day full of remembrance, food and family. Lao Chai Eang, the president of the Hmong Association of Canada, said the day was a necessary one to celebrate. 'We came to Canada [on] July 13th, 1979, which is the day we considered an important day, that the Canadian government opened the door for us to come,' he said. Eang said 11 different Hmong families came at once from different countries almost 50 years ago, looking to escape the Vietnam War. He also said celebrating the day is necessary when it comes to celebrating the parents that brought their children to Canada. 'Without their struggle all the way from Laos in 1975 to Thailand and to here. We would not be able to come here. So, we would like to appreciate them,' said Eang. The event included multiple instrumental performances, cultural dances, speeches from community members and dinner for the guests. Sy Moua is the vice-president of the same association. He helped organize Sunday's event. Moua said Waterloo Region holds the biggest Hmong community in the country. 'It's an opportunity for some of us in the community to share our stories of how we came to Canada,' he said. 'Everyone's got their own story. Everyone took a different path to get here but we are all, essentially, the same people.'
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Two dozen Hmong men in Minnesota face deportation
[Source] Twenty-four Hmong men who settled in Minnesota decades ago are being held in jails across Minnesota and Iowa as they await deportation to Laos, according to the Hmong 18 Council, a local Hmong advocacy group. Most of the men arrived in the U.S. as refugees after the Vietnam War and later became lawful permanent residents before their status was revoked due to past criminal convictions. Federal agents arrested several individuals at their homes, workplaces and in front of their children. The detentions have caused distress and confusion within Minnesota's Hmong community. Family members often do not know where their loved ones are being held or when removal proceedings might occur. Chia Neng Vue, 43, who was arrested at his home in Coon Rapids, told the Sahan Journal, 'It is a tear in my heart. I am scared for my children and my family. I do not know what will happen to us.' Community advocates warn that these enforcement actions reflect a broader pattern targeting Southeast Asian Americans and are calling for greater transparency from immigration authorities. Darling Yaj, executive director of the Hmong 18 Council, said, 'To the Hmong community, this is a betrayal. We came here as legal immigrants, not illegally.' Advocates are urging officials to consider the men's long-standing ties to Minnesota and the trauma caused by uprooting families with deep roots in the region. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
