If you buy illegal drugs in a country with a government like Thailand's, you're asking for a bad time. I've spent over 5 months around TH with no problems at all, as have many of my friends. On top of that, Phuket is a terrible cesspool of scammers and partying tourists and should be avoided at all costs. Try a nearby smaller town if you're going for the nature. He gets no sympathy from me, but thanks for the story.
You should read up on the law differences on everyday things in countries you are visiting before going there. Avoid breaking the law at all costs as a foreigner, cause even in more 'civilised' places going through the legal system isn't pleasant.<p>This guy broke the law, maybe he got scammed by corrupt police but he wouldn't have been in the first place if he abided by the law.
Part two with more burocracy details:
<a href="http://conscious-life.org/jail-time-thailand-part-2/" rel="nofollow">http://conscious-life.org/jail-time-thailand-part-2/</a>