Chokwan Chopaka is a Thai cannabis rights activist and entrepreneur.[1] She is known for her advocacy and campaign for the legalization of Cannabis[2][3] in Thailand.
Early life and career edit
Chokwan Kitty Chopaka spent much of her youth in Nigeria, but returned to Thailand to attend Bangkok University where she holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration with a major in Entrepreneurship. After her education, she managed a law firm briefly in Iran.[4] Chopaka left the firm to pursue multiple entrepreneurial endeavors which led to becoming more involved in cannabis activism that leaned on her legal knowledge and skills. She founded the company Elevated Estate, a cannabis-focused startup incubator in Thailand in 2019 which sold to the Golden Triangle Health there after.[5]
Chopaka then founded the Chopaka brand, a company that manufactures Terpene Gummies sold throughout Asia.[6] Her first flagship store was opened in Bangkok before legalization as an outlet for gummies and other Terpene products. She subsequently added flowers after Cannabis was legalized.[7][8]
She is known for collaborating with government departments and companies in Thailand and the Czech Republic and has advised politicians from Australia and surrounding Asian countries.[9][10] She also serves as an advisor to the Thailand Cannabis Act Drafting Committee in 2022. In 2019, she was awarded the Jack Herer award of Free Fighter for her contributions in Cannabis activism. She is often quoted by Times magazine, Reuters and other media outlets on issues of Cannabis.[11][12][13]
She is a frequent speaker on several issues surrounding Cannabis, she has spoken at Global Cannabis Justice Exchange Forum, Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EU National Drug Coordinator Meeting and other panels.[14] She has led and organized several protest including the Thai Cannabis Day on 6 June and “Refusal to Re-criminalizing Cannabis Letter of Intent Collection to be Summited to the Next Minister of Public Health. She also led the protest for the Cannabis Act at the Parliament House of Thailand. In November 2022, she also led a protest for Refusal to Re-criminalizing Cannabis Protest at the Government House of Thailand.[15][16]
References edit
- ^ Ghoshal, Devjyot; Wesshasartar, Napat; Ghoshal, Devjyot (2023-04-06). "Thailand's promised cannabis bonanza disappoints as politicians trade blame". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Who Will Win in Thailand's Cannabis Industry?". Voice of America. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Dinner talk on the safe use of cannabis". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Media, Koktail. "Koktail Media". Koktail Media. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Waitze, Michael. "Asia Tech Podcast – Episode 50 – Chokwan Kitty Chopaka – Founder & CEO of Elevated Estate – Introducing a Cannabis Investment Fund | Asia Tech Podcast". Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Candies for grown-ups - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Duangdee, Vijitra. "'Green way of life': Thailand sees cannabis boom after law change". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Setboonsarng, Chayut; Kuhakan, Jiraporn (2022-06-14). "Thailand legalises growing, consumption of marijuana". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Hsu, Chia Chi (2023-02-02). "Decriminalisation casts a haze over Thailand's cannabis business". Southeast Asia Globe. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ manitsethi@gmail.com (2021-07-21). "'Nobody in Asia knows weed better than the Thais': new cash crop turning the kingdom green". Eastern Spectrum Group. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Thailand becomes first Asian country to legalise consumption of marijuana". WION. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Inside Thailand's Hazy Legalization of Weed". Time. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ Root, Rebecca (2023-01-09). "Consuming cannabis in Thailand: what tourists need to know about marijuana rules". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Thailand legalises growing cannabis and eases consumption rules". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Cambodian Police Open Fire on Protesters, 3 Dead". Voice of America. 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "The Hands-On Politician Hoping to Win Big in Thailand". Time. 2023-04-10. Retrieved 2023-11-25.