The "420" weed parties planned for Khao San Road yesterday were cancelled and are expected to be postponed till June 9 following the general election after critics said they would be in breach of the law, which bans the smoking of cannabis in public places.
A local group of vendors planned to organise the Cannabis Day Showcase event yesterday with a parade along the road as cannabis has been removed from the narcotics list.
But the event was slammed as inappropriate given it would allow people to smoke cannabis in public for recreational use -- as opposed to for medicinal purposes -- which prompted Khaosan 420, the event organiser, to axe it and reschedule the event for June 9.
Sanga Ruangwattanakul, president of the Khao San Business Association, said yesterday the organiser made the right move as the event had never received official authorisation.
More than 50 metropolitan police officers, as well as representatives from the Phra Nakhon district office and the Department of Thai Traditional And Alternative Medicine will monitor the area to ensure no one flouts the cannabis rules, they said.
April 20 is considered a symbolic day among pot enthusiasts as the number "420" has become synonymous with weed culture.
"I insist those who are caught using cannabis for recreational purposes will be immediately arrested according to the Public Health Ministry's cannabis control regulations," said Mr Sanga.
Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee, superintendent of Chana Songkhram police, said police were initially told the group planned to hold an academic meeting, which they agreed to, before the event was cancelled around midnight.
Officers are monitoring the area, he said, adding foreign tourists have been warned to respect the law.
