The 55-year-old, known only as Tracy, was arrested at a hotel on Jomtien Beach Road in Pattaya, Thailand after a call was made by concerned hotel staff to local police
A British holidaymaker in Thailand has been arrested after allegedly causing havoc during a drug-induced frenzy.
The 55-year old-woman, known only as Tracy, was detained at a hotel on Jomtien Beach Road in Pattaya following a call to the local police by distressed hotel staff. Pictures reveal the woman, dressed in a blue top and sporting a short ponytail, surrounded by armed officers in the back of a police vehicle.
Local news outlets report that she was found in a state of “distress”, crying in her hotel room where a jar of cannabis and drug paraphernalia were also discovered. Upon arrest, she reportedly began to shout and behave erratically, leading to police intervention.
A “Danish friend” of the woman’s reportedly explained that they had been vacationing in the area for two days and had purchased the cannabis to smoke, but it allegedly triggered unusual behaviour in the woman, including isolation and signs of paranoia.
She was taken to a local hospital where it was suggested that pre-existing health conditions, prescription drugs and “excessive” cannabis use combined to cause the near-psychotic episode. It remains unclear whether the woman has been charged with any offences. The Foreign Office has been reached for comment. According to Siam Legal, cannabis is classified as a category five drug in Thailand, the lowest of all categories, reports the Daily Star.
They warned that despite recent changes, the woman’s actions could still land her in hot water: “In 2020, the regulations regarding the use of cannabis and hemp became more concrete which led to certain parts of the plants being exempted from narcotics in Category V.
Under the notification of the Ministry of Public Health issued in 2022, cannabis and hemp were officially reclassified and removed from the illegal narcotics list, thus, opening doors to the general public and businesses to use these plants for a wide range of purposes.”
“Even so, the utilization of the plants requires rigorous control and administration by relevant authorities to prevent any misuse. Under the law, cannabis extract must have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of less than 0.2 percent. In addition, penalties for causing public nuisance from the recreational use of cannabis still apply. Offenders may have to serve jail terms or be responsible for a fine.”
