Of course, Thailand legalized marijuana a few days ago. Consequently, it is now legally permitted to produce and sell marijuana in Thailand and export it to other countries for medical treatment purposes, though the intake of marijuana especially for recreational purposes is still prohibited in the Kingdom of Thailand, a Southeast Asian country. Of course, such a measure will help earn foreign currency and improve its economy. By this time, many have applied for the registration to produce marijuana in the country. But marijuana is used not only for making medical drugs but also for recreational reasons. Thus, the relevant aspect is whether this measure will bring beneficial effects only since the possibility of its recreational use of it remains to a greater extent.
It is pertinent to say that cannabis is legal not only in Thailand, which is the second largest economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, but also in Canada and different parts of the United States and Europe especially for medical treatments. No doubt, the effects of marijuana, widely rendered as the most popular drug in Western countries, are both positive and negative, but the positive effects are mostly seen in its use in medical treatments. The therapeutic effects of marijuana and cannabinoid-based drugs include decreasing inner-eye pressure, pain reduction, nausea and vomiting suppression and appetite stimulation. According to available sources, it is, consequently, used in the treatment of different diseases including cancer, chronic pain, multiple scleroses, glaucoma and eczema. Of course, its positive effects vary and depend on the treated conditions.
But the usage of cannabis leads to many negative effects. According to available sources, the usage of cannabis or cannabinoid-based drugs can result in many short and long term physical health problems such as respiratory and cardiovascular disorders, cognitive alterations, psychosis, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Of course, the use of marijuana especially for recreational purposes leads to some other negative side effects including addiction, social anxiety disorder, paranoia, and appetite irregularities. On some occasions, the abuse of cannabis can affect decision making. But negative effects are more with its frequent use. Drunk, sleepy and reckless driving is also associated with its abuse. Though medical use can lead to some negative side effects, negative effects are widely known to be mainly involved with the recreational use of cannabis.
Thus, the main cause of concern with the legalization of cannabis is whether Thailand, which is the first Asian country that legalized cannabis, can effectively restrict the use of cannabis to medical treatment only. According to available sources, many in Thailand abuse cannabis for recreational purposes. Notably, there are a few thousand prisoners who were arrested for carrying and/or abusing marijuana especially when there was a ban on the production, selling and use of marijuana in the country indicating the inadequacy of its efforts to prevent its abuse. Also, as is often criticized, many of those who use cannabis by saying that they have a headache or severe pain do not actually have a headache or severe pain. Such a pretext is intentionally used for the recreational use of cannabis.
Under such a context, the decriminalization of cannabis, though it does not allow recreational use, puts some extra challenges to the efforts to control its addictive use in Thailand. Thus, some measures are needed to make sure that the recreational use of marijuana is strictly and effectively controlled. In this respect, the government needs to oversee the production and sale of marijuana so that it is available merely for medical treatments. Monitoring is also needed to be boosted with an aim to prevent the abuse of cannabis especially under the pretext of illness or severe pain. But harassment needs to be avoided in the efforts to control recreational use. No doubt, awareness-raising is also very imperative, especially with the participation of civil society organizations.
No less important is that the government needs to especially focus on the teenagers who are more affected by the abuse of marijuana. Indeed, the recreational use of marijuana and consumption of food with cannabis leaves by those who are under the age of twenty can have a lasting effect on their brain development. Also, efforts to harm reduction of different groups of abusers including teenagers need to be given emphasis.
