Meet The Thai Entrepreneurs Building Bangkok’s First Cannabis Wellness Complex.
Bonno
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I cover cannabis, psychedelics, and altered states of consciousness.
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Jun 7,2023,07:00am EDT
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Jamiez Rayzoowaht Spaunpullsate and Boss Asakon Singsikornkun at Raymi Bar in Bangkok
Together with Canadian partners, Jamiez Rayzoowaht Spaunpullsate and Boss Asakon Singsikornkun ... [+]PHOTO COURTESY REMEDY'S & CHARLIE'S
Whether for its white-sand beaches, spicy cuisine, or ancient temples, Thailand has long been a popular destination among international travelers. More recently, tourists have been flocking there for another reason: to enjoy cannabis.
Thailand became the first Asian country to decriminalize recreational cannabis in June 2022. While cannabis policies go largely unenforced, the growing retail market has generated an estimated $1.2 billion and is set to nearly triple in size within the next five years. Decriminalization has had a profound impact on the nation’s hospitality industry, with bars in every city hawking pre-rolled joints alongside buckets of mixed drinks, and restaurants serving cannabis-infused food and cocktails to guests looking for a different kind of buzz.
The change in policy has come at an important time for businesses struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, while creating a new opportunity for Thai people who for years have been keeping their appreciation for cannabis under wraps.
In Bangkok’s Chinatown district, Thai entrepreneurs Boss Asakon Singsikornkun and Jamiez Rayzoowaht Spaunpullsate are building a multi-floor cannabis complex where local and traveling cannabis lovers alike will be able to learn about the plant and enjoy a relaxing massage, a delicious meal, and some locally grown flower—all without having to leave the building.
The view from Raymi Bar's rooftop lounge, where guests can enjoy an infused meal and locally grown ...
The upscale cannabis complex is the brainchild of Singsikornkun, the founder of Landmark Development, and Spaunpullsate, a hospitality veteran and the owner of Remedy’s Dispensary. Both were born and raised in Chinatown and are eager to add a luxury component to the bustling district’s cannabis-friendly offerings.
“Chinatown is a destination for visitors from around the world,” says Singsikornkun. “I have been an entrepreneur my whole life and I am excited to build a brand in the neighbourhood I grew up in. I have a special place in my heart for cannabis and see it as a natural way to help people.”
Thanks to strict Thai cannabis laws, Spaunpullsate spent most of his life as a covert cannabis consumer, struggling to find it and being careful to smoke discretely when he did. He says Gen Z-ers in Thailand perceive cannabis in an entirely different way from his parent’s generation: “They understand that it’s an herb, not a chemical. It makes me excited for the future of cannabis.”
Rema Wellness massage room
The second floor will house Rema Wellness, a high-end medical spa offering infused massages and ... [+]PHOTO COURTESY REMEDY'S & CHARLIE'S
Guests on the first floor of the complex will be guided through a futuristic cannabis museum before entering a private dispensary, Remedy’s & Charlie’s—conveniently supplied by a medical grow located in the same building. The next floor will house Rema Wellness, a high-end medical spa offering infused massages and other wellness treatments that utilize the medicinal properties of the plant. After a massage, guests can enjoy a THC-infused meal, a cocktail, and a pre-rolled joint on the rooftop bar and restaurant, Raymi. While Raymi is already open for business, the spa and dispensary are set to open by August.
The development in Bangkok is an important one for a market that is being heavily influenced by U.S. interests—take Cookies opening its first dispensary in Bangkok in January 2023, or the way Thai growers say they are being undercut by illegal cannabis imports from the U.S.
Spaunpullsate, Younge, and Singsikornkun at Raymi, the rooftop bar.
Singsikornkun and Spaunpullsate wanted to build the complex’s cannabis grow facility to the highest industry standards while supporting the local cannabis economy. To do that, they hired renowned local grower, Pai Siwakorn Ngaolee, as their head of cultivation, and brought in Canadian partners, Clint Younge and Chris Chetty of Charlie’s Cannabis Co.
“It’s never been done before, the way we’re amalgamating these businesses under one roof and making them work in harmony,” Younge says. “It’s a place for everybody, but the vision is really about creating something in Boss and Jamiez’s community—a place for education, but also for wellness.”
There has been speculation that cannabis regulations could be tightened after the recent election of the Move Forward Party, but Younge is confident that even if the political climate in Thailand changes, “we’re building the businesses to such a high standard that we will fall into even the toughest regulations.”
Remedy’s & Charlie’s will hold its grand opening event, HighTaste, in partnership with Hightable Bangkok on June 24 and 25 at Raymi Bar.
“Being able to share a part of history, and more importantly a part of the future with Boss and Jamiez, is powerful, and we’re honoured to be a part of it,” says Chetty. “We’re excited to be a part of this era where cannabis is no longer this elephant in the room.”
