Ha-sheesh moments  

As Juanito Jose Remulla III, eldest son of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, is acquitted of illegal drug (marijuana) possession in less than three months (obviously enjoying his Constitutional right to a speedy trial), the streets of Thailand reflect how quickly this nation has reacted to the legalization of marijuana.

Many storefronts of the ailing town of Chiang Mai now boast signs hawking medicinal cannabis. The names are funny. There is “Greenhead”, a nod to the potheads, and “Medileaves”, harking to the medicinal nature of the plant. “Amsterdam Cafe” is an obvious reference to the city that started it all, with the hilarious motto of “Hi, we are all High”. “Ganja” is an obvious choice, and the best way to describe one’s retail business? As a “dispensary”.

Somehow, to see tourists with children walking past street advertising promoting marijuana, or even sidewalk carts with that push drugs, is disorienting. Apparently this is what legalized drugs look like.

Over New Year’s Eve celebrations, as the party went into full swing, guests that included members of diplomatic families partook of joints, brownies, and gummies laced with weed. There was no furtiveness, no embarrassed looks. After all, what they were doing was legal.

Of course, not everything conceivable when it comes to marijuana is allowed. Even though cannabis is technically legal, still, one has to be mindful of the limitations. So, here come the regulations to clarify exactly what can or cannot be done.

In Thailand, the government has issued interim regulations aiming to guide tourists who may want to come and smoke up a party. This is while the nation is awaiting legislators to pass another bill regulating the sale and distribution of weed.

Apparently, importing or exporting seeds or parts of the plants is still not allowed. So enterprising businessmen shouldn’t think of bringing some home to their country of origin to start their own farm.

There is an age requirement: 20. Teenagers aren’t allowed near the stuff. Likewise, pregnant women, as well as women who are breastfeeding.

Smoking weed in public spaces, like malls and shopping centers, is illegal, and driving after consuming is frowned upon.

Unlike past prohibitions in the Philippines, where there used to be regulations disallowing bars and pubs from locating near schools, there seems to be no issue with weed shops being that accessible to schools. But maybe that will change. Or maybe I’m just too lazy to do more research.

One would have thought that with legalization, life would have become simpler. Instead, there are more complications arising from the legalization of marijuana. But that’s the same trouble we get with keeping drugs illegal, as well. For example, one can argue that our laws that make drug possession illegal were very simple. If one is caught with drugs in hand, then it’s an open-and-shut case. Possession shouldn’t be a difficult concept, yes?

But that’s not how Judge Ricardo Moldez II, clearly intending that the future remains bright for his own the III, saw the case for Remulla III. Because of his “reasonable doubt” that Remulla III was in possession of the drugs, Moldez II acquitted Remulla III.

According to the judge, it is an element for the crime that Remulla III should “freely, consciously, and with full knowledge” possess the marijuana in question. In the case before him, no evidence of Remulla III’s consciousness, and his knowledge, was presented by the prosecution before Moldez II.

As to how prosecutors are able to present evidence on “knowledge” and “consciousness”, I will leave that to the legal experts. Likewise, let the legal experts take issue with Moldez II’s reasoning. My only point --with this diversion yet again to Remulla’s case-- is that in both scenarios, where marijuana is legal and illegal, nothing is quite that simple.

Makes one want to light up a joint (I jest, of course).