“Cannabis should be in the same space as coffee.” | Chokwan 'Kitty' Chopaka | Dateline Bangkok
For this week's episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Chokwan 'Kitty' Chopaka. Kitty is a cannabis rights activist and entrepreneur.
Nicknamed the “Queen of Cannabis”, Kitty’s advocacy has seen her protest for the regulation and legislation of cannabis in Thailand.
She has also been an advisor to the Thai government and the European Union on issues surrounding cannabis. A former law professional, Kitty spent her youth in Australia before returning to Thailand.
Kitty opened up the Chopaka shop in 2022, the same year Thailand de-listed the cannabis flower as a narcotic, effectively decriminalising it. Chopaka was closed as of 2025.
Kitty speaks to Tommy about her early years in cannabis advocacy, her own hopes for the use of cannabis in Thailand and the challenges the industry faces today.
Link to podcast: https://youtu.be/4NWiO66D4Sw?si=L_EfVpY2DBa0VyGR
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