File picture courtesy of Khaosod 

 

A coalition of doctors, academics and anti-drug advocates sent an open letter,  on 13 October 2025, to Thailand’s Health Minister, Mr. Pattana Phomphat, calling for the revocation of the 8 February 2022 ministerial announcement that removed cannabis from the list of Category 5 narcotics. The network cited rising psychiatric cases and other health issues following the policy shift that allowed recreational use and broad cultivation of cannabis.

 

The letter highlighted the evolution of Thailand’s cannabis policies over the past six years. Initially, medical cannabis was tightly regulated in 2019, with cultivation permitted only for medical purposes under licence. In 2022, the government introduced a recreational-friendly policy, permitting recreational use and wider cultivation, before returning to a medical-focused framework in 2025, albeit still allowing recreational use without criminal penalty.

 

The network warned that recent proposals to further relax regulations could worsen public health outcomes. These include allowing recreational users to purchase cannabis without a prescription, reducing quality controls for cultivation and permitting dispensaries to operate outside medical facilities. According to the group, these changes risk making medical cannabis a de facto recreational substance and could reverse the benefits of controlled medical use.

 

The coalition presented data showing significant negative effects since the liberalisation of cannabis. Hospital admissions for cannabis poisoning have increased six- to seven-fold, addiction cases two- to five-fold and psychiatric cases three- to five-fold. In tourist-heavy provinces, foreign patient cases rose 22-fold and medical costs for treatment of cannabis-related illnesses increased five-fold.

 

The group urged the Health Ministry to submit a proposal to the Narcotics Control Board to revoke the 2022 announcement, restoring strict medical cannabis regulations. They emphasised that a robust medical cannabis framework could be continuously improved while eliminating the public health risks associated with recreational use.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Medical and academic networks demand revocation of the 2022 cannabis liberalisation policy.

• Hospitalisations and psychiatric cases linked to cannabis have surged since recreational use was permitted.

• The coalition warns further relaxation of regulations could intensify public health issues.

 

Related Stories

 

Thailand-to-reconsider-cannabis-laws-amid-industry-concerns

 

Narcotics-agency-tightens-kratom-sales-nationwide

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now From Khaosod 2025-10-14

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe they just want their fees for a prescription for medical marijuana.

56 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Maybe they just want their fees for a prescription for medical marijuana.

maybe they are correct in everything they said, if you are a user you will obviously disagree which you are entitled to do

^^^ Nah, doctors/pharma have their uses but are typically extremely inept on anything to do with nutrition and alternative and natural health—‘if it can’t be solved by a pill it ain’t right’. Cannabis will be detrimental to some, but they and the dogooders should mind their own business and let people decide. 

2 hours ago, daveAustin said:

^^^ Nah, doctors/pharma have their uses but are typically extremely inept on anything to do with nutrition and alternative and natural health—‘if it can’t be solved by a pill it ain’t right’. Cannabis will be detrimental to some, but they and the dogooders should mind their own business and let people decide. 

Wrong. Every competent physician has the same position: Balanced nutrition and physical activity  are the essential and critical requirements of good health. They cannot be replaced by  pills and potions.

How much money did this doctors get from tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical lobby?

 

Of course there is more psychiatric case linked to cannabis, before people got jailed for cannabis and didn’t go much to hospital for a bad cannabis trip.

 

Much of the bad cannabis experiences are just people getting too stoned and need to relax few hours before come down, doctors can’t do anything for them.

 

Why don’t the Thai people say all the wonder of cannabis: less alcohol, less tobacco, less hard drugs, less dangerous medicine, less fighting, less violence in family, etc….

 

In germany they just did a big study who show no problems with the legalization and American saw a lot of benefits with it without seing big problems. How can it be different in Thailand?

Doctors tell you on the one hand that MDMA puts holes in your brain, and on the other that it should be used in trauma therapy. So you know....they can say a lot of things...In the 19th century they said a lobotomy was a swell idea.

13 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

 

The network warned that recent proposals to further relax regulations could worsen public health outcomes. These include allowing recreational users to purchase cannabis without a prescription, reducing quality controls for cultivation and permitting dispensaries to operate outside medical facilities. According to the group, these changes risk making medical cannabis a de facto recreational substance and could reverse the benefits of controlled medical use.

 

The coalition presented data showing significant negative effects since the liberalisation of cannabis. Hospital admissions for cannabis poisoning have increased six- to seven-fold, addiction cases two- to five-fold and psychiatric cases three- to five-fold. In tourist-heavy provinces, foreign patient cases rose 22-fold and medical costs for treatment of cannabis-related illnesses increased five-fold.

 

But, but, but, it is harmless, only beneficial to it's users and has no risks associated with habitual use!

On 10/14/2025 at 3:31 AM, Georgealbert said:

 

File picture courtesy of Khaosod 

 

A coalition of doctors, academics and anti-drug advocates sent an open letter,  on 13 October 2025, to Thailand’s Health Minister, Mr. Pattana Phomphat, calling for the revocation of the 8 February 2022 ministerial announcement that removed cannabis from the list of Category 5 narcotics. The network cited rising psychiatric cases and other health issues following the policy shift that allowed recreational use and broad cultivation of cannabis.

 

The letter highlighted the evolution of Thailand’s cannabis policies over the past six years. Initially, medical cannabis was tightly regulated in 2019, with cultivation permitted only for medical purposes under licence. In 2022, the government introduced a recreational-friendly policy, permitting recreational use and wider cultivation, before returning to a medical-focused framework in 2025, albeit still allowing recreational use without criminal penalty.

 

The network warned that recent proposals to further relax regulations could worsen public health outcomes. These include allowing recreational users to purchase cannabis without a prescription, reducing quality controls for cultivation and permitting dispensaries to operate outside medical facilities. According to the group, these changes risk making medical cannabis a de facto recreational substance and could reverse the benefits of controlled medical use.

 

The coalition presented data showing significant negative effects since the liberalisation of cannabis. Hospital admissions for cannabis poisoning have increased six- to seven-fold, addiction cases two- to five-fold and psychiatric cases three- to five-fold. In tourist-heavy provinces, foreign patient cases rose 22-fold and medical costs for treatment of cannabis-related illnesses increased five-fold.

 

The group urged the Health Ministry to submit a proposal to the Narcotics Control Board to revoke the 2022 announcement, restoring strict medical cannabis regulations. They emphasised that a robust medical cannabis framework could be continuously improved while eliminating the public health risks associated with recreational use.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Medical and academic networks demand revocation of the 2022 cannabis liberalisation policy.

• Hospitalisations and psychiatric cases linked to cannabis have surged since recreational use was permitted.

• The coalition warns further relaxation of regulations could intensify public health issues.

 

Related Stories

 

Thailand-to-reconsider-cannabis-laws-amid-industry-concerns

 

Narcotics-agency-tightens-kratom-sales-nationwide

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now From Khaosod 2025-10-14

 

 

 

 

 

Finally medical science speaks out loud. Thank you❤️🙏

On 10/14/2025 at 5:04 AM, gargamon said:

Maybe they just want their fees for a prescription for medical marijuana.

Stupid comment 

15 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Doctors tell you on the one hand that MDMA puts holes in your brain, and on the other that it should be used in trauma therapy. So you know....they can say a lot of things...In the 19th century they said a lobotomy was a swell idea.

Stupid comment. You don't understand anything.

On 10/14/2025 at 3:31 AM, Georgealbert said:

A coalition of doctors, academics and anti-drug advocates sent an open letter,  on 13 October 2025, to Thailand’s Health Minister, Mr. Pattana Phomphat, calling for the revocation of the 8 February 2022 ministerial announcement that removed cannabis from the list of Category 5 narcotics. The network cited rising psychiatric cases and other health issues following the policy shift that allowed recreational use and broad cultivation of cannabis.

The truth of the drugs effects finally coming out.

These people definitely have an agenda and don’t know about marijuana there is a small percentage of people who should never smoke but the rest of the world has been for thousands of years need to shut these people down

Just now, hotchilli said:

The truth of the drugs effects finally coming out.

Are you kidding me don’t be so stupid 

On 10/14/2025 at 7:47 AM, daveAustin said:

^^^ Nah, doctors/pharma have their uses but are typically extremely inept on anything to do with nutrition and alternative and natural health—‘if it can’t be solved by a pill it ain’t right’. Cannabis will be detrimental to some, but they and the dogooders should mind their own business and let people decide. 

That's totally wrong:

inept on anything to do with nutrition and alternative and natural health—

In some countries you can be specialized after ordinary medical school, after learning for another 2-4 years. Doctor for naturopathy and homeopathy.

15 hours ago, topthai said:

How much money did this doctors get from tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical lobby?

 

Of course there is more psychiatric case linked to cannabis, before people got jailed for cannabis and didn’t go much to hospital for a bad cannabis trip.

 

Much of the bad cannabis experiences are just people getting too stoned and need to relax few hours before come down, doctors can’t do anything for them.

 

Why don’t the Thai people say all the wonder of cannabis: less alcohol, less tobacco, less hard drugs, less dangerous medicine, less fighting, less violence in family, etc….

 

In germany they just did a big study who show no problems with the legalization and American saw a lot of benefits with it without seing big problems. How can it be different in Thailand?

you nailed it on the first sentance 

How much money did this doctors get from tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical lobby?

 

if they were serious.. ( and we can see they are  NOT *** )  there would be zero tolerance for  real drugs //  ya ba  ya ice

just cut to the chase .    sell it and collect a tax for the government ..  a small tax

It's been legal for many years recreationally and medically in California without any major issues. I haven't heard of any phychological issues arising from cannabis use. Plenty of issues with meth and fentanyl use! Ya Bah is cheap in Thailand so is meth. Cannabis is expensive. Alcohol kills. Doctors here don't worry about cannabis use. They always ask about alcohol  use. They know I use cannabis as I tell them and it has shown up in my blood tests. I get a chest X ray every year and I'm still fine. It helps some people and others it doesn't. Like many things in the world. What works for one doesn't anyways work for another. Keep the law and politics out of the issue. The genie is out of the bottle. Kind of late to try to stuff it back in now. Plus the PM is from the party who promoted legalization.

7 minutes ago, RonJr said:

Are you kidding me don’t be so stupid 

Don't question my intelligence, why would the doctors come out with this if it was not an issue.

8 minutes ago, RonJr said:

These people definitely have an agenda and don’t know about marijuana there is a small percentage of people who should never smoke but the rest of the world has been for thousands of years need to shut these people down

You mean, doctors are too stupid to know what they are saying and doing ????? Really??????

What BS. It’s not the “killer weed”.

11 minutes ago, Jimi007 said:

It's been legal for many years recreationally and medically in California without any major issues. I haven't heard of any phychological issues arising from cannabis use. Plenty of issues with meth and fentanyl use! Ya Bah is cheap in Thailand so is meth. Cannabis is expensive. Alcohol kills. Doctors here don't worry about cannabis use. They always ask about alcohol  use. They know I use cannabis as I tell them and it has shown up in my blood tests. I get a chest X ray every year and I'm still fine. It helps some people and others it doesn't. Like many things in the world. What works for one doesn't anyways work for another. Keep the law and politics out of the issue. The genie is out of the bottle. Kind of late to try to stuff it back in now. Plus the PM is from the party who promoted legalization.

might have to be concerned over the " major issues " in California view ...    

3 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

might have to be concerned over the " major issues " in California view ...    

Mostly political issues over where legal shops can be located, and the over taxation that has practically killed the legal business so everyone just grows their own now. It's legal in  many states as well as Canada. It's a big hobby as well as big businesses for grow supplies. It's definetly not in the news due to people freaking out because they ate too much! Never heard of smoking too much. And I've been around it for over 50 years. 

16 hours ago, topthai said:

How much money did this doctors get from tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceutical lobby?

What a stupid comment! 

 

On 10/14/2025 at 7:47 AM, daveAustin said:

^^^ Nah, doctors/pharma have their uses but are typically extremely inept on anything to do with nutrition and alternative and natural health—‘if it can’t be solved by a pill it ain’t right’. Cannabis will be detrimental to some, but they and the dogooders should mind their own business and let people decide. 

My rights. My freedom.  My body. I know my limits , you don't.  Ok, you made your point Dr. Google. In  this Utopia of unregulated narcotics the government , society and family are expected to pick up the mess left behind by the druggies. I am expecting an overwhelming negative response from the pot heads who can't last a couple of days without their medical-nutrtion fix.

47 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

What BS. It’s not the “killer weed”.

The BS is on your side

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Don't question my intelligence, why would the doctors come out with this if it was not an issue.

Because they were incentivised to do so.

Not going to happen under this current, new, albeit acting, temporary Sheriff 

Just look at other countries and learn .. Nothing medical and nothing good about that cannabis  … that will destroy thailand …. Soon that drug will destroy a lot of young people and families and city, public places and even under a traffic light you will smell that disgusting Cannabis … Hope government act and protect his people and not that organization 🙏🏻

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Stupid comment. You don't understand anything.

An unsubtle, if rather accurate, dismissal of a somewhat silly argument!

...Sounds Like 'Lobbying'....(?)