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Thailand as a “420-Friendly” Tourist Destination: A New Way to Travel
The new intersection of cannabis and tourism Not just a place where you can smoke cannabis, but a place where cannabis can change your worldview. Since decriminalization in 2022, Thailand has been attracting the attention of backpackers, digital nomads, and wellness-oriented travelers from around the world as the only country in Southeast Asia that openly accepts "420-friendly." However, it is not just the attraction of being a "country where you can smoke." Rather, Thailand is now trying to reconstruct the UX (experiential value) of the tourism experience itself, centered on "cannabis tourism." Especially since the post-pandemic era, as the trend of "seeking meaning in travel" has grown, cannabis has been given a new context, not just as entertainment, but as…
A haven of “green gold”: Thailand aims to become Asia’s cannabis economic hub
"After tourism and agriculture, it's green gold." Thailand has now stepped into an uncharted frontier as Asia's first "legal cannabis country." Starting with the lifting of the ban on medical cannabis, Thailand has taken the step of de facto decriminalization in 2022, attracting the attention of global investors and companies. The government has clearly stated its goal: "Make Thailand the cannabis hub of Asia." However, behind this lies a multi-layered and complex strategy that encompasses agriculture, medicine, tourism, trade, and policy, which goes beyond mere economic policy and goes as far as redefining the country's national identity. "Lifting the ban" is not the goal, it's the beginning of an industrial revolution Thailand's move towards cannabis in earnest is not just…
Will legalizing marijuana revive Thailand’s agricultural nation?
"Both rice and cannabis were life-sustaining crops." Two years after Thailand decriminalized cannabis in 2022, areas that were once called "disappearing rural areas" are once again in the spotlight. The turning point was when cannabis, the "green gold," began to function as a new cash crop for rural farmers. For many years, rural areas in Thailand have relied on rice and sugarcane, whose prices fluctuate greatly. However, exposed to climate change and market competition, the outflow of young people to cities has not stopped, and the agricultural population has been steadily declining. Then came cannabis, which has been legalized through deregulation. Its resistance to being harvested even in the dry season, its applications in medicine, beauty, and food, and its…
Those who know the “illegal era” – Memories of smuggling and freedom today
"Just smoking it will send you to prison" - that was just a few years ago. Thailand decriminalized marijuana in 2022. However, behind this freedom are the memories of those whose lives were tossed about as "criminals." In this article, we will shed light on how Thai society has dealt with marijuana through the voices of people who lived through the "illegal era," including drug dealers, former prisoners, lawyers, and social activists. "Three years for one gram" - Excessive punishment and a "selected life" In the past, possession of cannabis in Thailand was immediately punished as a "drug crime," and it was not uncommon for a prison sentence of several years to be handed down regardless of the amount. Behind…
Aiming for a country without “marijuana discrimination” — the barriers Thai society has overcome
It wasn't a question of whether it was legal or illegal, but whether it would eliminate prejudice. In 2022, Thailand became the first Asian country to fully decriminalize marijuana. This policy, which was met with surprise, went beyond the question of whether it was legal or not, and challenged the very structure of discrimination that had remained deeply rooted in society. A turning point in history: Liberation from "arrested herbs" Cannabis has been used for many years in traditional Thai medicine and lifestyle culture. Although it was popular as a painkiller, a sleeping pill, and an herb that supported rural life, the 1979 Narcotics Act transformed it into a "symbol of crime" overnight. Since then, many of the arrests have…
Neo’s Enlightenment and Buddha’s Enlightenment: Philosophical Metaphors for Virtual Reality and Truth
The film "The Matrix," released in 1999, is not just a science fiction film, but a work that reflects profound ideas that cross modern religion, philosophy, and cyberculture. In particular, the process of "awakening" experienced by the protagonist Neo has a surprising number of similarities to the enlightenment of the Buddha in Buddhism, and this similarity is no coincidence. In this paper, we will explore what "reality" is in modern society and what it means to "truly awaken" by comparing the enlightenment processes of Neo and Buddha. Awakening from Ignorance: The Act of Breaking the Shell of Ignorance One of the most fundamental doctrines in Buddhism is the idea that ignorance of the truth, or ignorance of the truth, is…
Your indifference is taking away “someone’s choice”
Silence around medical marijuana prolongs children's suffering "It's nothing to do with me" is an attitude that isolates people Medical marijuana - they don't reject the term, but they don't actively try to get involved. This "indifferent" group may be the most common in Japan today. But what if this indifference is preventing changes in the system and depriving people who need it of the option? Medical marijuana is now being recognized around the world as a treatment option for certain diseases. In the United States, the CBD formulation "Epidiolex" for intractable epilepsy has been officially approved, and in the UK and Israel, it can be prescribed at the doctor's discretion. In fact, there are many reported cases where epileptic…
“If it wasn’t illegal, this kid would…”
The reality that Japan's system fails to address the children who are not even given a choice "It might work, but I can't use it" - A mother's decision In 2023, a mother living in Tokyo was faced with a choice for her 5-year-old daughter who suffers from severe epilepsy. The doctor told her that the medication she was currently using would not stop her seizures. She had tried most anti-epileptic drugs and suffered from side effects, but no results were seen every day. In the midst of all this, she came across multiple cases in which the CBD formulation "Epidiolex," approved overseas, was effective for children with intractable epilepsy. It is approved by the FDA in the United States…
“Medical marijuana” effective for children with epilepsy, approved worldwide
Between countries where science and ethics are advancing and countries where they can't even debate The "last option" that stopped the seizures Florida, USA. Seven-year-old Charlotte Figi was diagnosed with severe Dravet syndrome and suffered from hundreds of seizures a day. Dozens of anti-epileptic drugs were ineffective, and doctors said, "There's nothing more we can do." Her family's last resort was a CBD (cannabidiol) preparation extracted from cannabis. When a doctor in Colorado administered CBD oil under the supervision of a doctor, Charlotte's seizures dramatically decreased within a few weeks. She was eventually able to return to her daily life, and this episode was reported throughout the United States as "Charlotte's Miracle," which prompted a medical reevaluation of cannabis. Based…
CBD for Developmental Disorders: Are the Reports of Improvement in Concentration and Anxiety Relief True?
The "one drop of potential" that science is beginning to show, and the reality that the system is leaving behind An "unrecognized hope" floating between medicine and family The use of CBD (cannabidiol) for children with developmental disorders is quietly spreading around the world. Although CBD is a cannabis-derived ingredient, it is said to have no psychoactive effects and is extremely low in addictive properties. There are now voices in the medical and research fields that suggest this substance may have the potential to change the lives of children with developmental characteristics such as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The day our eyes met for the first time: the story of Noah and CBD Rebecca…
“Medical marijuana” that schools don’t teach: How to tell your kids
--The "gaps" facing the educational field and literacy for the next generation The question beyond "Marijuana = No, absolutely not" "That's a bad drug, isn't it?" an elementary school student said to a classmate who was using CBD to treat epilepsy. He didn't mean any harm. He just learned that at school. In the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's educational guidelines, cannabis is taught as a "harmful drug" as part of "education to prevent drug abuse." **No information on "medical use" or "progress in international legalization" is included. The possibility of "cannabis as a life-saving drug" is not taught in Japanese classrooms. The “Institutional Vacuum” Facing Drug Education in Health and Physical Education In Japanese elementary, middle…
Why is the only medicine that works for children suffering from epilepsy illegal?
--The voices of Japanese families torn between the law and humanity One drop stops 100 seizures a day "That night, for the first time, he didn't have a seizure. When I saw my son sleeping, I cried too," says a mother whose 7-year-old son suffers from intractable epilepsy. She tried CBD (cannabidiol) oil, a product that was recommended to her by a doctor overseas and prescribed in the United States. It is a cannabis component with no psychoactive effects, and was approved for medical use by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in 2018. However, the product is "banned from import" in Japan. If trace amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) are detected during customs clearance, you could be arrested for…
CBD for kids: Does it work? What are the side effects?
--The "one drop of potential" shown by science and the blind spot of the system that has been overlooked Misconceptions about the word "marijuana" When asked, "Is CBD (cannabidiol) safe for children to use?", even doctors have difficulty answering the question. This is because the image of "CBD = marijuana" is still deeply rooted in Japanese society. However, CBD is actually a different ingredient from THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which has a psychoactive effect, and is attracting attention in the medical field as a "neuromodulator" with an extremely mild effect. And now, this possibility is extending to "children". Scientific evidence for "CBD treatment" in pediatric epilepsy Epidiolex, a CBD drug approved by the US FDA for children In 2018, the US Food…
Is medical marijuana for children ethical?
-- Japan and the West are divided on the merits of "life-saving options" Taboo or option? The fluctuating boundary between medicine and ethics "It's unthinkable to use marijuana on children." This reaction is still common in Japan. Even for medical purposes, the image of marijuana causes an immediate rejection. However, this common sense is changing in the medical field around the world. Intractable epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), severe anxiety disorder - for cases that modern medicine has difficulty treating, the therapeutic use of cannabis-derived ingredients such as CBD (cannabidiol) is being promoted. This is not just a question of "legal/illegal." It is a deeply human question: "Is this treatment ethically acceptable for children?" Western countries: Towards "realistic ethics" based…
To regain a “normal life” — The struggle of parents who place their hopes in medical marijuana
Parent-driven policies: Citizen activism surrounding CBD and Japan's institutional stagnation A drop of light deemed "illegal" on a sleepless night "She may have another seizure today..." A mother, who is on edge 24 hours a day in preparation for her daughter's seizure, has a bottle of CBD oil beside her. A drop of this oil, which can be obtained with a doctor's prescription overseas, is considered an "illegal drug" in Japan. CBD has already been put to practical use as a medical treatment for children suffering from intractable epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, in Japan, the discussion has not progressed sufficiently. Now, parents are beginning to speak out in order to fill that "void." Citizen-driven health policy: signatures,…
“Gift from the Stars” – The invisible thread that connects hemp, humanity, and the universe
"Life is not yours. It is a gift from the stars." -- A Hopi elder"There is nothing more foolish than valuing life too much. The adventure never begins." --Hopi elderWe are not born to be healthy. We are not born to earn money or live long lives. We are given life so that we can live as our "true selves" beyond that. Yasunao Nakayama, who came into contact with the memories of the stars after a near-death experience, says that he became aware of the "essence of life" through his encounter with the Hopi people. Life is a medium for living out our "destiny." Living according to that program is what true "life" is. Shimenawa, shrine maidens, Shinto rituals, and…
What is the “Asano-michi”? ──The spiritual culture before Bushido
Commonalities between Taoism, Ancient Shintoism, Jomonism and Hemp "A way of living in harmony with nature" that existed "before Bushido" In Japan, the word "michi" (way) has represented a lifestyle integrated with spiritual culture, such as bushido, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and judo. However, its origins are much older than bushido, dating back to a time when nature and spirituality were one. One aspect of this is embodied in the "way of hemp." It is not simply a technique for using materials or a religious ritual. It is a way of life centered on vibrational resonance with nature - a comprehensive worldview that uses "hemp" as a medium for everything from the body, clothing, faith, purification, and spatial design. "Tao"…
Cannabis and Moon Worship: The cycle of the full moon, new moon and hemp as a “spiritual crop”
Spiritual Farming: Menstruation, Germination, and Harvest Was cannabis a "plant that came from the sky"? It is not just superstition that humans have found divinity in plants. In times when the movement of celestial bodies was strongly linked to the agricultural cycle, plants were like **antennas that received messages from the sky**.In particular, hemp (cannabis) has been worshipped around the world as a "spiritual crop" that is deeply connected to both the sun and the moon.・It grows quickly and is sensitive to sunlight (photoperiod)・The rhythm of germination, flowering, and harvesting is in sync with the phases of the moon・The fibers, seeds, and inflorescences are all symbols of "circulation"Because of these characteristics, cannabis is considered a "spiritual plant" that is in…
The principle of “harai” and vibration medicine: tuning your consciousness with hemp
Connection with quantum medicine and subtle energy therapy What does “harau” mean, the act of purifying something? The act of "harai" has been passed down in Japan since ancient times. It is not just a religious ritual. Harai is a procedure to restore invisible "disharmony" inside and outside of humans, and in modern terms, it can be expressed as "resetting the energy field." In Shinto, **hemp** has almost always been used for purification. Haraegushi and onusa are typical examples, and are tools used by priests to purify spaces and the body. The reason for this is based on the sensory knowledge cultivated over a long history that "hemp fibers have the ability to adjust vibrations." Vibration medicine and retuning the…
Why did the Jomon people wear hemp? ──DNA and vibrational memory
The deep connection between hemp and the endocannabinoid system Hemp is not just a fiber When looking back at the lives of the Jomon people, the presence of pottery and hunting tools is often mentioned. However, equally important is the technology of "cloth," and in particular the role of "hemp." Archeological surveys have revealed that many hemp fibers and seeds have been excavated from Jomon period ruins. Hemp was used in every aspect of life, from clothing, nets, ropes, housing materials, and even ceremonial tools. However, hemp may not have been merely a practical item; it may have also had spiritual, vibrational, and bio-resonance aspects. This is now beginning to be discussed at the intersection of science and spirituality. Hemp…
Folklore of hemp and stars – Why did ancient people associate hemp with the sky?
Star worship, Tanabata, the legend of Orihime, and the cosmic symbolism of hemp A plant on earth that connects the heavens What did ancient people feel as they looked up at the twinkling stars in the night sky? To them, who sensed the presence of gods and ancestors in the distant heavens, the stars were the "home of the soul" and the "path" to get there. It is surprisingly little known that the stars were linked to a plant that takes root on earth - hemp. Hemp is not just a fiber or food. It was a plant that was deeply integrated into star worship as a **"symbol"** connecting heaven and earth. Orihime and Azabu: The "vibrational thread" hidden in…
The relationship between Jomon DNA and hemp: a plant rooted in Japanese spirituality
The relationship between geomagnetic fields, waves, electromagnetic properties of hemp fibers, and ancient senses The Jomon people and their "wave-like sense" It is said that the Jomon people had a better sense of "in tune with nature" than we who live in civilized society. While modern science focuses on "survival skills" and "sociality," the Jomon people had the sensory power to read signs, feel the air, and receive the vibrations of the land. This "ancient sense" is attracting attention again in the 21st century. This is because it awakens fundamental sensibilities such as "resonance with the earth" and "empathy with life" that we have left behind. The role that **hemp** has played in this is by no means small. DNA…
Candidate calling for a “healing revolution” – RFK Jr.’s cannabis and psychedelic policies and vision for treating PTSD
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has emerged as a candidate who transcends the existing partisan structure in the 2024 US presidential election. One of his unique policies is his approach to "public healing through cannabis and psychedelics." He sees these substances not simply as targets for legalization, but as social prescriptions for serious mental issues such as addiction and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). A vision for a "healing" society beyond marijuana legalization RFK Jr. is one of the few presidential candidates who strongly supports the legalization of marijuana. However, his stance is not just a liberal "right to use." Rather, he places emphasis on the idea of using tax revenues from marijuana legalization to establish "detox centers" across the…
The “hemp Shinto” period: What is the significance of hemp in Shinto rituals?
Shimenawa (sacred straw ropes), bell cords, and exorcism rituals are all "lines to the gods" that remain in the ritual. Traces of hemp" left at the shrine When you visit a shrine, you will see a "shimenawa" at the entrance to the approach or in front of the main shrine. The "suzu-o" hanging down from the shimenawa is the "purification stick" that the priest holds in his hand. And the "haraegushi" held by the priests. In the past, hemp was used for all of these items. Today, hemp has been replaced by nylon and vinyl, but hemp was originally one of the most sacred plants to the Japanese. Why was hemp so deeply connected to Shinto rituals? The answer lies…
Japan’s “hemp culture” was cut off by GHQ – is the time for its revival?
Examining the Jomon, Shinto, and prewar hemp cultures along with the modern revival movement Hemp is the original plant of Japan, residing in the "God of Food, Clothing and Shelter" When did we start to see hemp as something bad? Nowadays, when we hear the word "marijuana," the image of an illegal drug comes to mind. However, this plant was originally a "sacred presence" that was deeply rooted in the spiritual culture and lives of the Japanese people. Hemp fibers and seeds have already been found in Jomon period ruins. Hemp was used for clothing, fishing nets, ropes, mats, and even food and lamp oil - it was truly an all-purpose plant that was related to everything: **Clothing, Food, Shelter,…
Clothing that revives your “Wi-Fi with God” — will it make a difference just by wearing it?
Proposal for hemp clothing and bedding and "energetic living" We lost our Wi-Fi "The Japanese people of the past were connected to the gods." You may have heard such a phrase. Japan's unique spiritual culture, which has continued since the Jomon period, was alive in a life that lived in harmony with nature and in dialogue with the eight million gods. However, there was one thing that was symbolically "cut" by the postwar occupation policy. That was hemp. Hemp was not just a plant. It was used in the shimenawa ropes of shrines and as tools in religious ceremonies, and by wearing it, it purified the "place" and led people to a sacred realm. It was suddenly prohibited by law…
Yasunao Nakayama and “Earth Mythology” – Pole Shift, Force, and Our Future
"This is not science, but it's not a myth either." The world that Yasunao Nakayama talks about moves freely between modern science and ancient mythology. His words are sometimes spiritual, sometimes critical, and somehow reminiscent of a grand space epic. He preaches "Gaia Mythology" - a methodology of knowledge that interprets changes in reality using the language of mythology. At the heart of this mythology are scattered keywords that seem like science fiction, such as "pole shift," "force," and "galactic federation," but which actually get to the heart of the Earth. Pole Shift: The Shaking of the Earth's Axis and a Change in Human Consciousness Yasunao Nakayama has been sounding the alarm about the problem of "pole shift (movement of…
The door to cosmic consciousness that opens with “hemp” – Yasunao Nakayama explains the essence of the sacred plant
Why have we become afraid of hemp? And why are we starting to need it again? There is a man who tries to answer this question from the perspective of civilization and spirit: Yasunao Nakayama, a critic of civilization, a Jomon spiritualist, and a thinker who has been working for many years on the "reevaluation of hemp." For him, hemp is not just a plant or an industrial resource. It is a "memory device" that has been with mankind since ancient times, and also a "communication code with the universe." Hemp is a "frequency" Yasunao Nakayama believes that the essence of hemp is its "vibrational nature." Ancient people felt a connection with "God" by touching hemp, wearing hemp, and burning…
Yasunao Nakayama talks about the “Jomon Revival” – a warning to modern civilization and a path to spiritual restoration
"We are not already living in the 'future'. It is the 'past' that we should remember." This is a phrase often used by Yasunao Nakayama, a contemporary critic of civilization. For him, "evolution" is not a linear upward movement, but a process of spiraling back to the past and regaining a spiritual dimension. Among these, the subject that Nakayama pays the most attention to and that forms the core of his thinking is the "Jomon." Why "Jomon"? For modern Japanese, the Jomon period is merely a chapter in history that we pass over in school education. However, Nakayama Yasunao sees the Jomon period as "a symbol of the most refined spiritual civilization." There was no monetary economy or ruling structure,…
What is “hemp”? A sacred plant that unlocks the memories of civilization
"Asah" is not just a plant. It is a sacred thing that contains the wisdom of the ancient world, and is a trace of a forgotten civilization that is rooted deep in the memory of humankind. "To know hemp is to remember the rhythm of universal civilization." Memories of lost mythical plants In ancient Japan, hemp was the basis of all necessities, including food, clothing and shelter. It was integrated into people's lives as a sacred plant from the Jomon to Yayoi periods, and even in Shinto rituals. "Japanese Shinto is the religion of hemp." Taima originally meant "great hemp," and as "refined hemp," it was an indispensable purifying agent for Shinto altars and ritual implements. However, with the modernization…