Enlightened Thailand: Natural Medical Weed for All
Thailand is redefining societal norms and embracing a more evidence-driven approach to drug policy.
Links to Consider:
2. ABC News: Thailand Cannabis Laws Rethink Over Industry Medical Concerns
3. Cannabiz: Somai Pharmaceuticals Flags Entry into Australia with Range of Vapes and Oils
5. Insights into Anti-Neuroinflammatory and Neuroprotective Activity and Potential Entourage Effects
Thailand's Landmark Cannabis Regulation: A New Era for Dried Flower Users
The recent regulatory changes in Thailand, notably highlighted in the new drug policy, herald a significant milestone for users of dried cannabis flower. According to the regulation, dried cannabis flower is not listed as an illegal substance, unlike extracts, liquids, and THC-infused edibles. This pivotal distinction underscores the government's recognition of the medicinal and cultural significance of cannabis, ensuring that users of dried flower can access it without legal repercussions.
The excerpt from the new regulation emphasizes this point by categorizing narcotics subject to punishment in Category 5.
Narcotics subject to punishment in Category 5
There are 3 types, namely:
Opium plants or other plants in the same genus that produce opium or opium alkaloids, with a net weight not exceeding 15,000 milligrams.
Psilocybin or psilocybin-containing mushrooms or other mushrooms in the same genus, with a net weight not exceeding 135,000 milligrams.
Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, extracts from cannabis plants or cannabis extracts or products from cannabis, with a content exceeding 0.2% by weight and a net weight not exceeding 30,000 milligrams, in liquid form with a net volume not exceeding 30 milliliters.
Opium plants? Illegal. Psilocybin mushrooms? Illegal. Cannabis plants? Passed over in silence.
Thailand's recent strides in cannabis legislation mark a significant departure from conventional drug policies, challenging ingrained stigmas and misconceptions surrounding the plant. Amidst this groundbreaking shift, voices of dissent raise concerns about the purported hidden dangers of cannabis, but a closer examination reveals the influence of careerism and entrenched stigma rather than evidence-based reasoning.
Dubious Grievances
Forensic pathologist Dr. Smith's assertions regarding the prevalence of THC in deceased individuals may seem alarming at first glance, yet attributing causality between THC presence and fatalities remains elusive. The correlation between cannabis use and accidents or suicides requires nuanced analysis, considering the multifaceted nature of such incidents.
Similarly, data from the Centre for Addiction Studies suggests a rise in cannabis usage post-decriminalization, prompting fears of addiction and adverse health effects. However, such data must be interpreted within the broader context of shifting societal attitudes and evolving patterns of substance use. The increase in seeking treatment for cannabis addiction may reflect greater awareness rather than a surge in problematic usage.
The concerns voiced by medical professionals, while valid, must be scrutinized through a lens free from preconceived notions and sensationalism. Rather than succumbing to fearmongering, it is imperative to engage in constructive dialogue informed by scientific evidence and empirical observations.
Meanwhile, ventures between Australia and the EU to manufacture and distribute pharmaceutical vape and oil products underscore the complexities of cannabis regulation and commercialization. While these innovations hold promise for medical applications, they also highlight the commodification of cannabis and the potential marginalization of traditional herbal remedies.
In light of these developments, it is crucial to interrogate the motives behind narratives perpetuating fear and apprehension surrounding cannabis. The intertwined interests of career advancement and societal stigma often shape perceptions, overshadowing the nuanced reality of cannabis's therapeutic potential.
As Thailand navigates its path toward a more enlightened drug policy, it is essential to remain vigilant against misinformation and vested interests seeking to undermine progress. By fostering a climate of open discourse and evidence-based policymaking, Thailand can continue to lead by example in challenging outdated paradigms and embracing the transformative potential of cannabis.
Implications for Medical Cannabis in Thailand- in Pictures
Most medical cannabis regimes are partisan ruses. They amount to either a. a means of introducing cannabis to a community that would otherwise be against it, or b. a stealth method for keeping weed away from the public through expense and inconvenience.
Thailand can be different. Currently, it seems to be following recent and robust studies that suggest that the most effective cannabis medicine is the natural plant that provides what the founder of cannabis science, Israeli researcher Raphael Mechoulam identified over 40 years ago in his research as the “entourage effect”.
These findings were echoed by Dr. Andrew Weil, founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, over 20 years ago and most recently in the most comprehensive study of the phenomenon that concluded on January 15th, 2024.
Serious cannabis-derived drugmakers are at pains to replicate the entourage effect; yet, as the following images suggest, the task may turn out to be infinitely difficult.
As the image below makes clear, the entourage effect consists of more than simply a few of the compounds in a cannabis flower as Dr. Mechoulam hypothesized. The story is much more astonishing. The medical impact of cannabis comes from every quarter of the plant, not simply cannabinoids. Terpenes and flavonoids also contribute to the plant’s capacity to heal by returning balance to the individual's endocannabinoid system.
The variety of terpenes that constitute a particular plant will influence the plant’s range of healing capacities, while flavonoids protect brain function. Terpenes also have a big role in determining the characteristics of the impact of a particular cannabis cultivar.
Different terpines not only have different aromas, but different effects on the endocannabinoid system as well.
These findings show the importance of robust testing within any botanical therapy. Such testing tech does exist, but to procure them, one must first kiss many testing frogs.
Here we conclude with a look at the kind of test results that are necessary for a serious medical cannabis regime based on the botanicals themselves:
Test results that lack the segmentation between cannabinoids and terpenes shown in these two images will not prove to be of much value. So a robust testing regimen is a necessary condition of a serious medical cannabis sector.