Just 12 months ago, all drug offenses, including weed, were treated very seriously; As a matter of fact, getting caught with large amounts of weed could even result in a death sentence. Luckily, things have changed as Thailand legalized weed in early 2022, this was a huge win not only for Thailand but also for all cannabis enthusiasts around the world.
For the first time ever, the Asia International Hemp Expo arrived in Bangkok, Thailand, becoming the biggest cannabis event in the country for both cannabis business people and anyone in the industry seeking more sustainable solutions, information, and the latest tech on everything cannabis-related; Thanks to the legalization of cannabis in early 2022, cannabis enthusiasts from Cambodia, Vietnam and all over Asia had the chance to enjoy the full-blown experience of a cannabis expo in a 100% legal country.
The event was held on November 30th - December 3rd at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, with +78.000 m2, the event gathered top cannabis specialists from all over the world, showcasing what’s new in cultivation technology, hemp farming, medicinal products, cannabis genetics and many more; We are pioneers in what we do and being the first expo of its kind in Asia, we had to be there.
1. A Huge Thanks To All Our Friends and Supporters
Even before Thailand legalized weed, Fast Buds was already present thanks to all our local partners but this was the perfect opportunity to enter the Asian market on the right foot, be more present and not only establish a better relationship with our retailers and distributors but also provide better support.
We already knew our seeds were big in Thailand for a couple of years now, but we didn’t imagine they were THAT big. All our clients, partners, and friends did not hesitate to show up to our stand and show love and appreciation for the time, knowledge, and effort put into our genetics which made our time at the event and outside the event even better.
Not only we had the opportunity to make new friends and establish new partnerships and deals but we also had the opportunity to take a closer look at the legal cannabis industry in Thailand fair to say it was quite impressive and only serves to show how fast the cannabis industry is evolving, giving us a peak of what the future holds for the Thai weed industry.
After the event ended, we went out for a walk through the city center and we were amazed; As mentioned, we knew our seeds were popular but we were amazed at how our strain’s “final product” (aka weed) was being sold everywhere. We definitely expected to see more Fast Buds seeds than actual “Fast Buds weed” being sold, but it was the other way around; From big fancy weed shops to people selling weed out of the trunks of their cars, our strains were everywhere we looked, that’s something that stuck with us.
We enjoyed the culture and hospitality but what really made our trip worth it was people from Thailand and all over the world enjoying our strains; We were thankful and extremely happy to see consumers recognizing the decades of hard work and effort put into breeding the best autoflowering strains on the market.
Believe it or not, we’re not exaggerating when we say that 9 out of 10 shops carried at least one of our strains if not a bunch of them, from Purple Lemonade to Gorilla Cookies, it was great seeing how popular our work is which is something that we don’t get to experience from the office; Experiencing that personally puts a huge smile on our faces, it still doesn’t seem real but thankfully, it is.
2. Thailand: The Land of Smiles
As if that wasn’t enough, before heading back home we had a couple of days to travel a little bit so our Thai friends and partners took us on a trip to the North of Thailand, more specifically to Chiang Mai which is where most of the grow facilities are located due to the excellent climate conditions; Some of them even invited us to see their state-of-the-art grow facilities running only Fast Buds Autoflowers, making our excellent time there even better.
Our team tried crocodile meat, had the opportunity to smoke a joint with geishas, and had many other experiences that are unique to Thailand; We are extremely thankful to everyone that visited our stand at Asia International Hemp Expo 2022 and had the chance to share with us.
Team member Nico, who has been in the company since the very beginning gives us a more personal, in-depth look at Fast Buds’ trip to Thailand.
The uniqueness of a Thai cannabis expo
The main difference is the accessibility to legal weed. Many growers wanted to show their products and get to know our brand. In general, with a legal market, everything is more open and transparent. Also, there is a very different market and it is interesting to see another side of our business. Thanks to the legalization, a lot of progress has been made in terms of cultivation and cultivation technology, unlike the market in Europe which faces the classic problems of the European bureaucracy.
This is still the second edition of the Asia International Hemp Expo, and the first edition in Thailand fairs but it has a very bright future. The atmosphere is very relaxed, even though it is always full, all participants are very respectful and interested in market news.
The main difference, comparing it with fairs in Europe, is the freedom of expression and tranquility with which the growers (who are licensed by the state) express themselves, because being totally legal, they can work safely and not in a pirate way and this is reflected in the interaction with brands and exhibitors at fairs.
The best of Thai culture
The Thais are very humble, even if it is to show a tourist place or a dish or their harvest, the Thais always do it in a correct and respectful way, with enthusiasm and good vibes. A smile always takes you further, that's why they call Thailand: The Land of Smiles. It’s very interesting to see how problems are solved with different resources, and how it is possible to live in an alternative way to the Western paradigm.
We are always ready to judge such a country as second world, and although it does not have all the comfort that reassures in European man, the quality of life is much better and it is possible to live well with very little. Also, as they have already taken a very border decision, like legalizing cannabis, it gives the idea that they have a different mindset and it is interesting to be able to see it and absorb what is possible.
Local perception on Fast Buds and autoflowers
Fast Buds is King in Thailand! And the same goes for autos, for the first time in years I have seen growers treat our product with respect. Raising the quality, without prejudice, and producing a superior quality product. For them, the issue of finally being able to have our beloved legal plant has given them opportunities to work it professionally, through universities and courses. So Thai growers have understood our commitment to quality and are pushing our autos to unexpected levels.
It really seems that since it is legal, no one is concerned or afraid of cannabis; Technically it is forbidden to smoke on the street, but I have been able to smoke anywhere, even smoking next to the concierge of our hotel. Clearly, those who attend the expos already come with an open idea and also commercial or educational take on the subject. So we have been able to confront Asian users in an open and transparent way, understanding that the love for the plant also extends to unexpected countries like China or Japan.
Our good friends and partners at Smile Seed Bank
Luckily, Smile Seed Bank (our distributor in the country) was so kind to accompany me for the trip: David, Tommy, and Khao took me everywhere showing me tourist attractions and local customs. Bangkok, with the fact that I was at the fair for 4 days, was more to see the night life and the endless beach bars and marijuana stores. Chiang Mai was more to discover the city, the nature, the temples, the food and to visit the farms of our growers there. Overall, it is a country that deserves a visit, it will change your life.
