High drama: Cannabis inferno leaves Pattaya in fits of giggles
Chaos and laughter erupted in Pattaya last night after a serious blaze at a cannabis cultivation centre left residents and tourists feeling a little dazed.
Yesterday, February 13, the Land Disaster Relief Radio Centre was alerted to a fire tearing through a residential building on Soi Welcome Jomtien, Nongprue.
Quick as a flash, Pattaya City police, Jomtien Disaster Relief officers, and rescue volunteers hurried to the scene to extinguish the inferno.
The fire had broken out on the second floor of a four-storey commercial building, operated by Little Christiania Co., Ltd., where cannabis plants were grown. The floor was engulfed in flames, sending thick plumes of smoky cannabis wafting throughout the alley.
Firefighters battled for over 30 minutes to tame the blaze, facing the challenge of thick smoke and that unmistakable scent of cannabis filling the air. Eventually, the fire was controlled, leaving behind smouldering embers and the lingering smell of singed greenery.
Kanchana Fungsanthia, the 40 year old caretaker of the premises, confirmed they had official permission to grow the plants. She speculated that a short-circuited electrical panel, necessary for cannabis cultivation, sparked the fire. Damage is estimated at around 200,000 baht, yet thankfully, there were no injuries, reported The Daily News.
The incident set the local news abuzz, not just due to the fire but the unexpected side effects it sparked in the vicinity.
Residents and tourists reported feeling dizzy, experiencing headaches, and some even found themselves spontaneously giggling. Swollen eyes and fits of laughter made for an unforgettable night in Pattaya.
Meanwhile, Tourist Police and Pattaya police last week apprehended an Irishman following a break-in at a cannabis shop in Pattaya. The 23 year old man allegedly broke a window to access marijuana products, which he consumed until he passed out.
The incident, which took place on February 2, was captured on CCTV. Following a complaint lodged at Pattaya City Police Station, an arrest warrant was issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court (No. 70/2568) for the man, Andrew John Mathews from Belfast, for theft by damaging a barrier for protecting a person or property.
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