A fire broke out at a cannabis farm in Thailand - leaving locals stoned from the fumes.

Flames tore through the second floor of the four-storey commercial building where rows of cannabis seedlings were being cultivated in 'Sin City' Pattaya, on February 13.

The fire lit up the plants, sending narcotic smoke spreading throughout the neighbourhood.

Police and firefighters arrived at the scene after receiving a report from the building caretaker at 10:06 pm.

Footage shows the officers venturing into the building while wearing masks. The walls of the cannabis farm had been charred, with only a few marijuana plants left standing.

Authorities said the fire was brought under control after 30 minutes. There were no injuries or casualties reported.

The caretaker Kanchana Fangsanthia, 40, believed the fire was sparked by an electric short-circuit.

She said: 'This place has a license to grow cannabis plants. The fire may have started from sparks from a light panel that malfunctioned.'

The shopkeeper added the estimated damages caused was around 200,000 baht (around 4,700 GBP).

Locals were said to have suffered dizziness and headaches after inhaling the smoke, while some reportedly went into laughing fits.

Cannabis with under 0.2 per cent of THC was decriminalised in Thailand in June 2022, as a potential cash crop for impoverished farmers. Cannabis smoking is allowed for personal use in private areas but remains prohibited in public spaces.

However, bungling officials are now seeking to outlaw recreational cannabis, blaming poorly regulated use for allegedly fuelling drug abuse and a rise in the the number of cases of tourists over-indulging in the drug.

Tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya have seen the negative consequences of legalising the drug, with tourists regularly arrested for misbehaving while under the influence of cannabis.

Earlier in January, Russian father Artem Bugorskiy, 45, allegedly threw his son overboard on a ferry while he was high on cannabis in Phuket. The teenager was killed by the boat's propeller.


(1 GBP = 42.30 THB)