OPINION

A grain of truth

Re: "Jurin floats rice price insurance", (BP, Aug 18).

One government after another, regardless of "colour", devises schemes to subsidise rice and rubber farmers.

With global warming and a plethora of dams on major rivers, water-dependent crops like rice have an even tougher outlook. If farmers cannot produce crops to sell for a profit at market prices, then surely the answer is to grow different crops.

Governments should be funding research into what foodstuffs can be profitably farmed in Thailand in an environment of increasing drought and supporting farmers to make the switch. That is the only way farmers can hope to escape the poverty trap and Thailand can stop wasting billions in subsidies.

Re: "11 killed, 4 injured in lorry-van crash in Sa Kaeo", (Online, Aug 18).

Why is there so much focus on the "seven dangerous days" over New Year and Songkran? Yesterday, 11 were reported killed in a smash in Sa Kaeo (lower death tolls in terrorist attacks or crazed gunmen atrocities globally often merit headline news).

If one watches the midday news, there is daily coverage of such carnage, with often gruesome footage of the events (thankfully blurred) and other horrors that most tourists never see.

This will never stop until the putative law is rigorously enforced by responsible officers to prevent, for example, loutish minors from driving any form of vehicle and lorry drivers from being forced into meeting long-haul deadlines set by their employers which are impossible to meet without adequate sleep, resulting in the use of stimulants as a last resort.

Re: "First marijuana clinic opens in Korat", (Online, Aug 17).

This is a good example of the disconnect on so many levels between the developed world and Thailand.

There is an important distinction to be made between the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can cause severe and long term side effects, and cannabidiol (CBD), the principal constituent which has numerous medical benefits and few side effects.

A "marijuana clinic" would indicate both THC and CBD are on offer and people could get high by using their prescibed products.

The public health minister, who, although lacking any medical or public health administration education, is nevertheless possessed of substantial business interests and has seen fit to advance the marijuana initiative in Thailand vigorously.

Clearly, his political support base in the Northeast is enthusiastic about growing pot in their backyards, but would benefit more from an absolute ban on unpasteurised fermented fish or pla ra, rapid test diagnosis of TB, effective aedes egypti mosquito eradication, free whipworm and liver fluke checks, and many more low-cost public health policies.

It is highly unfortunate, therefore, that hemp licensing offers the potential for substantial financial gains. The only losers will be the Thai people -- yet again.

Re: "All's well that ends well", (Opinion, July 28).

I was happy to read this: "Those with permanent residency can go through the automatic gates reserved for Thais, though we have to register at the airport."

How and where in the airport do we register?

I had an experience many years ago going to Laos with two Thai friends. The queue was so long at immigration I was worried I might miss my flight, while my two Thai friends were enjoying their snacks at the Bangkok Airways lounge.

Mind you, that was many years ago. Things may have improved since then.