Thailand must be cautious of cannabis move

RESEARCH on medical potential must be weighed against known negative effects.

Thailand has long had a troubled relationship with marijuana. Questionable laws prohibiting its use and their inconsistent enforcement are regularly ridiculed by citizens and foreign visitors alike. That might now be about to change, thanks to lawmakers’ boldness and a growing belief in the purported, albeit as yet unproven, healing qualities of the plant.

Lifting the prohibition, however, is a highly delicate undertaking with serious pitfalls if we get it wrong. The path ahead must be trodden with prudence and great care. Being careful, though, does not mean being slow. Scientific research can quickly change the world, and Thailand is well poised to join the growing experimental investigation of marijuana.

This month saw Canada become only the second country after Uruguay to legalise the drug’s use for recreational purposes. Marijuana’s “pleasure” value is undisputed, but it is its medical potential that is driving the worldwide change in attitude.

That potential is now under the microscope in laboratories and research studies all over the world.

Along with medical benefits, proponents of relaxing the ban also cite the seeming hypocrisy of allowing cigarettes and alcohol to be sold lawfully while trade in marijuana is illegal. They also question the origin of tough anti-marijuana regulations passed in the late 1970s, inspired they say by a politicised move against the hippy counterculture behind growing opposition to the Vietnam War.

Others, though, are far more cautious, arguing strongly against the recreational use of marijuana. They see legal relaxation as a potential slippery slope to widespread abuse of the drug, a powerful intoxicant that has been linked with mental illness.

Thais are not as “educated” or wellinformed of the potential dangers as Canadians, they say, and relaxing the law could come back to haunt the country. Opponents cite as an example the poor discipline of Thai drivers. Police already have trouble dealing with drunk driving, goes the argument, and the situation could get a lot worse if marijuana is thrown into the mix.

Prior to the legal clampdown, Thais associated marijuana with mainly harmless fun. Cooks would use it as a “special” ingredient in dishes and drinks, resulting in giggles and a mellower mood around the table.

Possible health risks were occasionally raised but few took them seriously back then.

It’s not an easy situation to debate. If the proclaimed health benefits are proven to be true, medicine may have a powerful new weapon in its armoury. For low-income patients grappling with cancer, HIV/Aids and painful chronic conditions, this could be a huge boon. It may not come as soon as they would like, though. Businesses with vested interests in retaining the pharmaceutical status quo may be one reason medical marijuana hasn’t reached the shelves yet.

Any frustration among consumers should be tempered by considering the real risks. Marijuana acts more quickly on the human body than do tobacco and alcohol. Long-term use has been linked with loss of memory and brain function, while smoking marijuana poses a risk to lung health. In addition, the line between light recreational use and heavy abuse of the drug can be very thin.

In legalising marijuana we walk a medical and moral tightrope. The bottom line, however, is that serious study of the pros must now begin. Political considerations must be put aside and medical research must plough ahead.

Thailand is far from alone in this endeavour, for which the world should join hands. Serious and sustained research is impossible without a scientific attitude towards marijuana and its potential. A new door for medicine could open if countries come together, but everyone must also make sure we don’t at the same time open a door to fresh dangers for human health.