Health Ministry approves medical use of opium and magic mushrooms

[webfact]

 

In a historic directive, the Thai Public Health Ministry has approved the use of opium and magic mushrooms for medical treatment and research.

 

The policy shift, revealed in the Royal Gazette, came into effect immediately under Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew's signature.

 

Opium and psilocybin mushrooms, known for their hallucinogenic effects, are now classified as Category 5 narcotics, differentiating them from marijuana and hemp extracts.

 

Previously, substances such as kratom, marijuana, and hemp were removed from this category, leaving opium and magic mushrooms, along with marijuana and hemp extracts with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level over 0.2%.

 

The directive clarifies that all drugs in Narcotics Category 5, excluding marijuana and hemp extracts, are approved for medical use and research.

 

This change was made possible through the activation of Article 24 and Article 58 of the Narcotics Code by the health minister.

 

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-04-25

 

 

 

 

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[stoner]

mushrooms are good for depression. 

[Ralf001]

Fantastic news, cannot wait for an opium den to open near me.

[HappyExpat57]

Does this possibly mean a relaxing of the rules for hospitals using morphine, codeine or Oxycodone as pain relievers? It's my understanding they were very hesitant to use them even in the most legit cases.

[cookie1974]

Thailand is turning into a narco state who the hell thinks up these things do they have any idea of the consequences??

[Big Bert]

Are they still planning to ban Majwana again? Does anyone have any idea what's going on here?

[sammieuk1]

But don't vape it cos you will be in a world of Eartha Kitt 🤔

[AhFarangJa]

I would not hold my breath, they will flip flop back next month.

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, stoner said:

mushrooms are good for depression. 

Mushrooms have been proven to have many health benefits

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Does this possibly mean a relaxing of the rules for hospitals using morphine, codeine or Oxycodone as pain relievers? It's my understanding they were very hesitant to use them even in the most legit cases.

My wife suffered acute kidney problems in the 1970s before it became a prescription drug back in the UK.

[JayClay]

Are these going to be approved for "medical use" in the same way weed is? Or will this be for hospital administration only?

 

Asking for a friend, of course...

[hoopmonk]

Bad farang antidotes have arrived.

[stoner]

13 minutes ago, hoopmonk said:

Bad farang antidotes have arrived.

 

what ? 

[Dr Jon]

'Medical Opium Dispensaries' soon to be on every street?

[1happykamper]

This will bring tourism higher for sure! 

 

So opium.. Ganga and magic mushrooms.. 24/7.ok.

 

Buy a beer at 3pm in 7eleven ..not OK! 

 

Tourists flying high AND hallucinating while renting a motorbike. What can possibly go wrong. 

[newbee2022]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

In a historic directive, the Thai Public Health Ministry has approved the use of opium and magic mushrooms for medical treatment and research.

 

The policy shift, revealed in the Royal Gazette, came into effect immediately under Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew's signature.

 

Opium and psilocybin mushrooms, known for their hallucinogenic effects, are now classified as Category 5 narcotics, differentiating them from marijuana and hemp extracts.

 

Previously, substances such as kratom, marijuana, and hemp were removed from this category, leaving opium and magic mushrooms, along with marijuana and hemp extracts with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) level over 0.2%.

 

The directive clarifies that all drugs in Narcotics Category 5, excluding marijuana and hemp extracts, are approved for medical use and research.

 

This change was made possible through the activation of Article 24 and Article 58 of the Narcotics Code by the health minister.

 

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2024-04-25

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Good decision. Thank you Scientists👏

[twizzian]

From a potential death penalty or life in the clink for supplying or peddling to a legal narcotics hub destination

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, cookie1974 said:

Thailand is turning into a narco state who the hell thinks up these things do they have any idea of the consequences??

Read the article. I pretty sure it's not saying that magic mushie pizza shops are going to be popping up everywhere.

[Celsius]

Thailand soon....

 

[Gandtee]

1 hour ago, Gandtee said:

My wife suffered acute kidney problems in the 1970s before it became a prescription drug back in the UK.

I was referring to codeine.

[Shocked farang]

45 minutes ago, 1happykamper said:

This will bring tourism higher for sure! 

 

So opium.. Ganga and magic mushrooms.. 24/7.ok.

 

Buy a beer at 3pm in 7eleven ..not OK! 

 

Tourists flying high AND hallucinating while renting a motorbike. What can possibly go wrong. 

Not many people are willing to talk about it but cannabis really impairs ones ability to drive. 

[Bday Prang]

2 hours ago, cookie1974 said:

Thailand is turning into a narco state who the hell thinks up these things do they have any idea of the consequences??

dis you not understand the phrase "for medical use and research"   you would be shocked if you knew haw many drugs a pharmacy sells, and as for a hospital omg 

[Bday Prang]

52 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Read the article. I pretty sure it's not saying that magic mushie pizza shops are going to be popping up everywhere.

The number of people who launch a tirade of protests after reading only the headlines is astonishing,  Its almost as if they can't wait to complain

[kwan]

[Ralf001]

20 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

Not many people are willing to talk about it but cannabis really impairs ones ability to drive. 

 

A few weeks back.

 

Pumped a few cones with the lads after work.... took me 3 hours to drive home instead of the usual 1 hour !

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, 1happykamper said:

This will bring tourism higher for sure! 

 

So opium.. Ganga and magic mushrooms.. 24/7.ok.

 

Buy a beer at 3pm in 7eleven ..not OK! 

 

Tourists flying high AND hallucinating while renting a motorbike. What can possibly go wrong. 

what on earth are you talking about?   I thought the article was perfectly clear , what part of "for medical treatment and research" do you not understand?

[action]

But I still can't buy Pseudoephedrine for my stuffy nose.

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, Dr Jon said:

'Medical Opium Dispensaries' soon to be on every street?

For somebody who's user name includes the word "Dr" you appear to have little idea,  Should medical use be deemed appropriate for certain conditions the dispensaries are already well established,    us mere lay people refer to them as "Pharmacies" or "Dispensing Chemists"

You're not a real doctor,are you?

[Bday Prang]

4 minutes ago, action said:

But I still can't buy Pseudoephedrine for my stuffy nose.

plenty of nasal sprays available that will clear a stuffy nose far better than Pseudoephedrine,  Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride is the common active ingredient.  Never heard of "vicks sinex"     ?

[Bday Prang]

1 hour ago, twizzian said:

From a potential death penalty or life in the clink for supplying or peddling to a legal narcotics hub destination

I think you will find there are still penalties for trafficking or supplying ,  why hot give it a go , open a shop and see what happens