Cannabis not a cure-all, warn doctors

[webfact]

Cannabis not a cure-all, warn doctors

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation

 

People gathered at Chulalongkorn University yesterday to attend a seminar about the use of cannabis for medical treatment. Photo Pratch Rujivanarom

 

Cannabinoid medicines treat only a few ailments, can have serious side effects

 

CANNABIS IS not a panacea and must be used cautiously, medical experts at Chulalongkorn University warned yesterday.

 

Cannabis-related medical treatments should be carefully regulated in the context of the current public health environment, the experts told an academic forum, adding that the social use of the drug should also be addressed.

 

 Scientific studies debunk claims of cannabis as a cure for certain illnesses, while it can have harmful side-effects when improperly used, they said.

 

Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said there are many claims about the alleged ability of the drug to cure a variety of serious diseases, and increasing numbers of people were seeking cannabis to treat their ailments. 

 

He cautioned that not all these diseases could be effectively treated with cannabis and said cannabinoid medicines should only be used under strict medical advice. 

 

“Even though it has been proven that cannabis has many exceptional medical properties, its ability to cure the many diseases as claimed by some people has not yet been scientifically verified,” Thiravat said.

 

“So far, there are just six medical conditions for which cannabinoid drugs have been confirmed as an effective treatment, and even for these, cannabis-related treatment should be done under the supervision of doctors.”

 

He said the six conditions treatable with cannabinoid medicines are pain, muscle spasticity, seizures, brain disorders, depression and the side-effects of chemotherapy.

 

However, he emphasised that, like all other medicines, cannabinoid drugs can have side effects. 

 

“Patients must be very careful when taking cannabinoid medicines, as too large a dose can lead to serious side-effects such as partial paralysis. 

 

“The use of cannabis is strictly prohibited for patients with bipolar disorder, because it can worsen this mental disorder,” he cautioned.

 

Chulalongkorn University’s vice president for research and innovation Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham agreed that cannabis can be used to treat many diseases, but said patients should remember everything had both pros and cons, so they should use cannabis cautiously.

 

“Even paracetamol can be lethal if it is wrongly used, so we should not idolise cannabis as a panacea and entirely replace conventional medicines with cannabinoid medicines. Otherwise, the very useful medical cannabis could also be harmful,” Kiat said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30368772

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-03

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[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

He said the six conditions treatable with cannabinoid medicines are pain, muscle spasticity, seizures, brain disorders, depression and the side-effects of chemotherapy.

 

It would appear that quite a few Thai drivers could possibly be eligible for a prescription then ?

[unamazedloso]

It cures boredom! Proven!!

[SweetStickyRice]

So say the "experts" that still dish out a small plastic bag full of medicine including antibiotics when a person has a cold. 

[Nyezhov]

Yes it cures all. Give me a baggie and some papers and all my problems are gigglers. Yo dude, check it out, a sucking chest wound! Cool!

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

He said the six conditions treatable with cannabinoid medicines are pain, muscle spasticity, seizures, brain disorders, depression and the side-effects of chemotherapy.

He missed hypochondria

[Topdoc]

It also provides a much safer alternative to many alcoholic drinks especially 'lao khao'

[ChipButty]

Any thing has to be better than Chemotherapy 

[30la]

There is always someone who for the money of the pharmaceutical industry tries to avoid the introduction of cannabis as medicine!

[ThaiPauly]

10 minutes ago, 30la said:

There is always someone who for the money of the pharmaceutical industry tries to avoid the introduction of cannabis as medicine!

Big Pharma don't like it at all.

 

These so called findings are bogus in my book.

 

 

[Scott]

Troll post reported and removed.

 

[orientalist]

Another confusing article that talks vaguely about cannabis and "cannabinoid medicines" without stating the case for CBD (Cannabidiol, containing no THC). 

 

The government seems to be concentrating on controlling the prescription of cannabis in Thai folk medicine rather than making CBD available for those of us who need it and know it works. I want to be able to import CBD and get it from Customs using a medical certificate from my doctor without a whole lot of bureaucratic BS. 

[Krataiboy]

we should not. . . entirely replace conventional medicines with cannabinoid medicines. Otherwise, the very useful medical cannabis could also be harmful Big Pharma will go out of business.

 

Pass a hankie, someone.

[RotBenz8888]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

 

He said the six conditions treatable with cannabinoid medicines are pain, muscle spasticity, seizures, brain disorders, depression and the side-effects of chemotherapy.

Alcohol and drug abuse can cause brain disorders, im sure these patients will respond well on this treatment.

[RickTik]

[Guest Jerry787]

big pharma sponsored meeting....

 

 

[Bert got kinky]

What a great big pile of steaming stuff.

 

How did someone with such little subject knowledge become a spokesman/lecturer/expert in such matters?

Why do Thai doctors think that they have better information than the worldwide studies that have cost billions to conduct?

Even if cannabis were made fully legal, providing that it has the same restrictions as the sale and use of alcohol, the benefits would far outweigh the minimal side effects.

 

BTW, I don’t think that anyone is claiming that cannabis is a cure all, what is being argued is that we are better with this medicine than without it.

 

 

[CLW]

Less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
Proven by many international studies.

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[nervona81732]

The mouth piece for BIG PHARMA. I wonder how much he got paid for that statement. Makes you wonder. Just saying.

[lvr181]

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Alcohol and drug abuse can cause brain disorders, im sure these patients will respond well on this treatment.

Oh ye, of little faith.

[CLW]

The mouth piece for BIG PHARMA. I wonder how much he got paid for that statement. Makes you wonder. Just saying.

Especially for teaching staff positions in developing countries.
Their salary is so low or they are greedy, so almost every professor has a second occupation in a private company where he seeks to benefit from and transfer money from the university to his business.

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[connda]

13 hours ago, webfact said:

He cautioned that not all these diseases could be effectively treated with cannabis and said cannabinoid medicines should only be used under strict medical advice. 

Translated: Doctors need their cut; drug companies need their cut; government needs their cut -- must be highly, highly controlled!!!

[CLW]

Translated: Doctors need their cut; drug companies need their cut; government needs their cut -- must be highly, highly controlled!!!

Couldn't have said it better. Just look at craft beer. Brewed in neighbouring countries and imported to Thailand because the big ones can't get their cut.

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