Experts unite to oppose govt’s cannabis legalisation

[webfact]

 

by Mitch Connor

 

A collective of medical professionals, academics, and civil organisations have released yet another open letter to express their opposition to the government’s decision to legalise cannabis. This marks their seventh open letter on the matter, urging the public to vote for political parties that do not support the removal of cannabis from the list of narcotics, as well as its promotion as a cash crop.

According to the contents of the open letter, there has been a noticeable increase in accidents and incidents of adverse reactions concerning mental and physical health since the consumption of cannabis was liberalised last year. The consumption and trade of this controversial plant were effectively legalised on June 9 of the previous year, when the Bhumjaithai Party succeeded in having cannabis removed from the list of Type 5 narcotics. Consequently, this move led to the permission of usage for most parts of the plant, exempting portions of the plant containing more than 0.2% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by weight.

The authors of the open letter highlight that the medical use of cannabis has been allowed since 2019 despite the plant’s listing as a narcotic. However, the removal of cannabis from the list of Type 5 narcotics has made the plant and its derivatives more easily accessible to the public. The letter emphasises that, given the lack of a legal framework to control and monitor the production and consumption of cannabis, recreational use has inevitably surged.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/doctors-academics-and-civil-groups-oppose-cannabis-legalisation-in-thailand-in-open-letter

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-25

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[stoner]

could we please have the names and qualifications on these so called experts ?

[still kicking]

2 minutes ago, stoner said:

could we please have the names and qualifications on these so called experts ?

 you not one of them I guess

[stoner]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

 you not one of them I guess

invited to their circle jerk ? ya no thanks ill pass and continue to help out like i always do.

[still kicking]

5 minutes ago, stoner said:

invited to their circle jerk ? ya no thanks ill pass and continue to help out like i always do.

change your name 

[Jack Cook]

Lots of whinging former experts. Way too late. Too much money involved now and the train has long left the station.

Edited April 25, 2023 by Jack Cook
Additional info

[stoner]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

change your name 

ok.

[marin]

Experts who have never tried it. They know what their mommy told them..????

[clearance]

25 minutes ago, webfact said:

there has been a noticeable increase in accidents and incidents of adverse reactions concerning mental and physical health since the consumption of cannabis was liberalised last year

We need numbers I think, for example, 1 incident before, and 2 after is a 100% noticeable increase, but it is still only 2 incidents. 

 

[connda]

When I hear the word "expert" all that my mind conjurers is the images of people with alternative financial and political interests elsewhere.  If a media agrees to support only one side of an argument or narrative, suddenly they promote 'experts' to defend their own positions.  Everyone else becomes an agent of misinformation. 
Matt Taibbi and Lee Fang pretty much nailed this as the "Sovietization" of media.  Not born during Soviet times?  Read a history book and look up the role of the Soviet state's Pravda newspaper.  Yeah, history may not repeat itself, but it is beginning to rhyme - uncomfortably.

[dinsdale]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

According to the contents of the open letter, there has been a noticeable increase in accidents and incidents of adverse reactions concerning mental and physical health since the consumption of cannabis was liberalised last year.

I would love to see the evidence for increased accidents. I bet you it would be cannabis was found in their system.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical in cannabis that makes people feel “high.” Tests can detect THC in the body for several days or even weeks.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324315

As for adverse reactions:

An overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death. There are no reports of teens or adults dying from marijuana alone. However, some people who use marijuana can feel some very uncomfortable side effects, especially when using marijuana products with high THC levels. People have reported symptoms such as anxiety and paranoia, and in rare cases, an extreme psychotic reaction (which can include delusions and hallucinations) that can lead them to seek treatment in an emergency room.

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana#:~:text=Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs,higher risk of lung infections.

 

[Lingba]

Experts!!!

[connda]

14 minutes ago, Jack Cook said:

Lots of whinging former experts. Way too late. Too much money involved now and the train has long left the station.

Perhaps.  Or maybe the party that comes to power declares cannabis to be illegal and starts rounding up purveyors and users en-mass and packs the prisons to bursting, while also rounding up political enemies and doing the same.  But like you said - my guess is too much money is now involved to rein it back in.  We'll know after the next election where it seems all parties are wooing voters by promising to give them thousands of Thai Baht out of the government's treasury.  Where are they going to get that money from?  And the ultimate cost will be run-away economic inflation which will wreak the economy for most low-paid Thais.  As my grand-dad and others his age use to say, "There ain't no such thing as a free-lunch," a saying with its roots in the Great Depression.  After hyper-inflation sets in, those wanting to make cannabis illegal will have second-thoughts as pot keeps the natives pacified, counter to the narrative they promote of cannabis-crazed killers roaming the streets and preying on the unwary - something more liable to occur with those who consume alcohol and ya-ba.

[connda]

7 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I would love to see the evidence for increased accidents. I bet you it would be cannabis was found in their system.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical in cannabis that makes people feel “high.” Tests can detect THC in the body for several days or even weeks.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324315

As for adverse reactions:

An overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death. There are no reports of teens or adults dying from marijuana alone. However, some people who use marijuana can feel some very uncomfortable side effects, especially when using marijuana products with high THC levels. People have reported symptoms such as anxiety and paranoia, and in rare cases, an extreme psychotic reaction (which can include delusions and hallucinations) that can lead them to seek treatment in an emergency room.

https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/cannabis-marijuana#:~:text=Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs,higher risk of lung infections.

 

It so easy to find the people who have never tried it and know nothing about its effects.

[sherwood]

Leave the weed alone you Experts. I wish the world would grow more of the stuff and use it instead of chemicals for fiber, food, fuel and the multitude of other things it's good for and that includes recreation.

That's my view if anyone is interested.

[ThaiFelix]

43 minutes ago, stoner said:

could we please have the names and qualifications on these so called experts ?

I imagine the same experts who promoted the G200 bomb detectors lol!

[dinsdale]

1 minute ago, connda said:

It so easy to find the people who have never tried it and know nothing about its effects.

Exactly. Showing off and then panic because they think their dying. Dope can be pretty strong and if someone doesn't know what to expect then sure they might panic. It's just ignorance to the effects of the drug. As for little ones eating cookies that's not good and the parent/parents have a lot to answer for.

[scotsman]

If the Experts are correct then they are also correct when it comes to alcohol and cigarettes so if they want to ban Cannabis they should also ban the other 2.  If they don't then I don't agree with them if they do ban all 3 then I agree with them for not being hypocritical.  All 3 of the legal drugs on the market is bad for you in some degree so you just can't pick and choose which one you want to ban.    I have to say in my opinion all 3 of them is making far to much money now to ban any of them, you just have to enforce the laws you have to mitigate the Bad from all 3. 

 

Regards 

Scotsman  

[webfact]

Prominent Thai Medical Group Wants the Public to “Vote Out” Legal Marijuana Supporters in Upcoming Election
By Tanakorn Panyadee

 

 

National — A group of 45 medical personnel, academics, and citizens filed a petition against the legal marijuana policy backed by the Bhumjai Thai Party.

The group is urging Thai voters not to choose Bhumjai Thai in the upcoming election to protect Thai youth from what they call the detrimental affects of the liberal cannabis policy, citing the plant is now being used widely for recreational purposes versus the original intended purpose of medical use only.

 

The petitioners blame this trend on the caretaker Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, for declassifying marijuana as a narcotic on February 8th, 2022, allegedly causing many people to become “addicted” to the plant ever since.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/04/25/prominent-thai-medical-group-wants-the-public-to-vote-out-legal-marijuana-supporters-in-upcoming-election/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-04-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[Jingthing]

If this happens, this is really gonna harsh my mellow.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

The authors of the open letter highlight that the medical use of cannabis has been allowed since 2019 despite the plant’s listing as a narcotic. However, the removal of cannabis from the list of Type 5 narcotics has made the plant and its derivatives more easily accessible to the public. The letter emphasises that, given the lack of a legal framework to control and monitor the production and consumption of cannabis, recreational use has inevitably surged.

Mr Anutin is not flavour of the month... 

His vote buying scheme may have backfired.

[nobodysfriend]

There are many much more dangerous drugs openly available in Thailand ...

Thai male drinking groups ( Lao Khao ) seriously damage their ( mental ) health by this drug that is available everywhere , even in Supermarkets .

I never heard about some doctors complain about this .

Hypocrisy , or financial interests involved ...

[stoner]

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

If this happens, this is really gonna harsh my mellow.

no one talks like this.

[ignore it]

Jeeze people, it don't matter.

 
Legalization has just brought commercialization, branding and price inflation. Recriminalization will only kill the pot shops/cafes and advertizing.

Weed heads like me will just go back to good old non-organic cheap brick at home.
I get too stoned to drive after a joint or a capuchino and cookies stop at a weed cafe anyway. 

Edited April 26, 2023 by ignore it
Clarity

[Jingthing]

40 minutes ago, ignore it said:

Jeeze people, it don't matter.

 
Legalization has just brought commercialization, branding and price inflation. Recriminalization will only kill the pot shops/cafes and advertizing.

Weed heads like me will just go back to good old non-organic cheap brick at home.
I get too stoned to drive after a joint or a capuchino and cookies stop at a weed cafe anyway. 

I think it matters.

Most expats wisely avoid becoming legally vulnerable.

For most of us our residency here is on thin ice.

If they have to backtrack like this I hope they can come up with a compromise. 

Something like needing to register ID and to state medical reasons such as back pain.

But frankly I think the new global perception of Thailand as Amsterdam 2.0 has been a massive benefit for Thailand.

[Kevin Taylor]

Experts eh. Thats just another word that doesn't mean what it used to.

[Burma Bill]

22 hours ago, Jack Cook said:

Lots of whinging former experts. Way too late. Too much money involved now and the train has long left the station.

But the train could be derailed at any time!!

[Will B Good]

Phfft ..........we don't listen to experts in the UK.......we listen to Brexiteers.

[AustinRacing]

23 hours ago, marin said:

Experts who have never tried it. They know what their mommy told them..????

You don’t need to be a pothead to become an expert in its adverse effects. It’s called education, something heavy smokers of the stuff have difficulty grasping. 

[marin]

14 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

You don’t need to be a pothead to become an expert in its adverse effects. It’s called education, something heavy smokers of the stuff have difficulty grasping. 

And just where were you taught about its adverse effects?????

 

Those potheads getting high and beating their wives and girlfriends, fighting in bars, driving and crashing while killing others. Yeah I see what you mean. ????