File photo courtesy: Daily News

 

Professor Panthep Puapongphan, Dean of the College of Oriental Medicine at Rangsit University, addressed recent concerns regarding the alleged increase in psychiatric patients following the decriminalisation of cannabis on June 9, 2022. His comments challenged claims that this legal change has led to a surge in psychiatric issues.

 

Prof. Panthep explained that comparing psychiatric patient numbers post-decriminalisation with those from the lockdown year of 2021 is misleading. The Covid-19 pandemic naturally caused fluctuations in psychiatric patient numbers and hospital visits, independent of cannabis legislation.

 

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) supports this view. Their data shows that the number of people receiving psychiatric services in 2023 (2.9 million) is similar to pre-Covid levels in 2019 (2.8 million) and even lower than in 2018. This evidence disputes the notion that a rise in psychiatric patients is directly linked to cannabis decriminalisation.

 

Prof. Panthep also highlighted a decrease in the proportion of psychiatric patients related to methamphetamine and other drugs since cannabis was decriminalised. According to the Ministry of Public Health, drug rehabilitation cases have consistently dropped from 2021 to 2024, averaging a reduction of 26,705 cases each year.

 

These trends challenge the narrative that cannabis decriminalisation has exacerbated psychiatric issues.

“The data clearly shows that the number of psychiatric patients has not increased due to cannabis decriminalisation. In fact, we see a reduction in cases related to other, more harmful substances.”

 

Effective law enforcement and thoughtful regulation, rather than reclassifying cannabis as an illegal narcotic, are crucial for addressing substance abuse problems, emphasised Prof. Panthep. He believes that reverting cannabis to an illegal status would not tackle the root causes of substance abuse and could potentially miss out on the benefits of regulated cannabis use.

 

“We need to focus on effective policies and regulations that manage cannabis use responsibly, rather than reverting to outdated classifications. This approach can help us better tackle substance abuse issues.”
 

-- 2024-06-17

 

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It has been said so many times, Meth is the main problem in Thailand as it is cheap to manufacture and can be produced in relatively small premises, plus absolutely no standards to maintain. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“The data clearly shows that the number of psychiatric patients has not increased due to cannabis decriminalisation. In fact, we see a reduction in cases related to other, more harmful substances.”

 

ooops. this is quite the walk back. there were those of us saying this right from the beginning. 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Professor Panthep Puapongphan, Dean of the College of Oriental Medicine at Rangsit University, addressed recent concerns regarding the alleged increase in psychiatric patients following the decriminalisation of cannabis on June 9, 2022. His comments challenged claims that this legal change has led to a surge in psychiatric issues.

I'm sure their s plenty of evidence

Ban it, it stinks !

 

That said if you want it in your cookies or cakes or drinks, go ahead. I'm not against the taking off it, only the smoking of it. (probably from too many hours in cash converters in Blackpool UK as the smelly cannabis stinking 'poor' traded in their tv's until giro day !

Don't worry.  Be happy!!!

interesting and/or suspicious how the recent polls and studies are refuting claims that weed is bad for Thailand when just weeks ago it was determined Thais and doctors think it is definitely a problem. it's as if someone wants it to remain legal for some reason.

22 minutes ago, cncltd1973 said:

it's as if someone wants it to remain legal for some reason.

Yes. The people.  😎

So happy to see not anyone getting money from the alcohol industry 

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Ban it, it stinks !

 

That said if you want it in your cookies or cakes or drinks, go ahead. I'm not against the taking off it, only the smoking of it. (probably from too many hours in cash converters in Blackpool UK as the smelly cannabis stinking 'poor' traded in their tv's until giro day !

Guess we should ban you then too as soon you are sweating and anywhere in sight of the public. What a logic.

6 minutes ago, topthai said:

So happy to see not anyone getting money from the alcohol industry 

I doubt that is relevant in the first place, cannabis is not competition for alcohol, that is another nonsense statement similar to this one that is now debunked. At the end of the day hops from beer are from the same family as weed is from, they go perfectly along lol.

This guy hasn't seen enough movies.

finally someone looking at statistics the right way. as i said many times, i cannot smoke anymore but i do not think people should be put in jail for it. 

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure their s plenty of evidence

 

I'm sure there is evidence.

 

No, they found no link, as there aren´t any. They could have asked us here on AN, instead of paying a fortune for something that has already been researched to death.

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure their s plenty of evidence

 

2 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

I'm sure there is evidence.

 

So, that means you understood the meaning, but just felt the need to correct? Take a 

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Ban it, it stinks !

 

That said if you want it in your cookies or cakes or drinks, go ahead. I'm not against the taking off it, only the smoking of it. (probably from too many hours in cash converters in Blackpool UK as the smelly cannabis stinking 'poor' traded in their tv's until giro day !

just a heads up for you... Those American "scientists" have just about perfected vaporizing.

 

No more smell..  All you dudes complaining about bad smell ( really? there are so many bad smells out there. And good ones too.. swings and roundabouts) should now be promoting vaporizers.

9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Ban it, it stinks !

 

That said if you want it in your cookies or cakes or drinks, go ahead. I'm not against the taking off it, only the smoking of it. (probably from too many hours in cash converters in Blackpool UK as the smelly cannabis stinking 'poor' traded in their tv's until giro day !

A weird reply.

Bạn durian too, while you at it. 

Where are all the anti-dope posters that call people potheads and dope is evil. I guess this OP debunks their demonizing and ignorance of the facts and goes against the governments narrative and theirs and i guess they have no response to this article.  Where are your puerile, ad hominem comments?. Regulate not recriminalise. It's the only sensible and rational path forward.

7 hours ago, topthai said:

So happy to see not anyone getting money from the alcohol industry 

Why....?  🤔

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Where are all the anti-dope posters that call people potheads and dope is evil. I guess this OP debunks their demonizing and ignorance of the facts and goes against the governments narrative and theirs and i guess they have no response to this article.  Where are your puerile, ad hominem comments?. Regulate not recriminalise. It's the only sensible and rational path forward.

I am one, when I was a mini-cab driver way back in London, I saw it all.

So, in your opinion, because one Thai bloke does his thing, you are now all in the clear, well, that is laughable, same as your anti-covid stuff.....🤣

4 minutes ago, transam said:

I am one, when I was a mini-cab driver way back in London, I saw it all.

So, in your opinion, because one Thai bloke does his thing, you are now all in the clear, well, that is laughable, same as your anti-covid stuff.....🤣

I think you'll find this professor would not be alone in his assessment. You mention COVID and there is a link in that the narrative is very one sided but that seems to be changing for dope recriminalisatin and COVID. Good to see two sides of a story. This is how people can educate themselves rather than blindly following the "official narrative" which sadly so many do. We've now had this + the public opinion article saying the majority of Thais do not want recriminalisation.  

 

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I think you'll find this professor would not be alone in his assessment. You mention COVID and there is a link in that the narrative is very one sided but that seems to be changing for dope recriminalisatin and COVID. Good to see two sides of a story. This is how people can educate themselves rather than blindly following the "official narrative" which sadly so many do. We've now had this + the public opinion article saying the majority of Thais do not want recriminalisation.  

 

But, he is just one bloke, the rest are saying you will all end up nutters..........😂

But, if this one bloke suits your lifestyle, then, crack on.......

14 hours ago, webfact said:

“The data clearly shows that the number of psychiatric patients has not increased due to cannabis decriminalisation. In fact, we see a reduction in cases related to other, more harmful substances.”

 

Effective law enforcement and thoughtful regulation, rather than reclassifying cannabis as an illegal narcotic, are crucial for addressing substance abuse problems, emphasised Prof. Panthep. He believes that reverting cannabis to an illegal status would not tackle the root causes of substance abuse and could potentially miss out on the benefits of regulated cannabis use.

 

“We need to focus on effective policies and regulations that manage cannabis use responsibly, rather than reverting to outdated classifications. This approach can help us better tackle substance abuse issues.”

A very logical and reasoned argument, one which those of us who do not blindly follow the narrative have been saying since recriminalisation was raised. 

An about turn on what has been said by other Dr types on the subject.

Maybe the pro pot groups offered the fattest envelopes to this Dr.

 

I would be rolling a fattie right now if the site i am on did not perform random drug tests 😫

22 hours ago, dinsdale said:

A very logical and reasoned argument, one which those of us who do not blindly follow the narrative have been saying since recriminalisation was raised. 

Spot on.

Too many people profit from the War on Drugs for it to end anytime soon.

Thailand's recent experience is a prime example.