Poll says majority support medical marijuana use

Most people think marijuana should be legalised for medicinal purposes, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted on Aug 16-17 among 1,250 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education and occupations to gauge their opinions on the “use and harm” of marijuana.

Most of the respondents, 68.2%, said they had heard that marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes; 31.3% said they hadn’t heard that, and 0.4% were uncertain or had no comment.

Asked whether a law should be enacted to legalise the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, 72.4% agreed, saying such a law has already been passed in some countries; 24.9% disagreed, reasoning the law could allow the uncontrolled use of marijuana, which may lead to an increase in crime; and 2.6% were uncertain or had no comment.

Asked whether they thought authorities would be able to control the use of ganja, as it is known, for medicinal purposes, a slight majority, 54.3%, believed they would be able to do so; 38.7% thought otherwise, saying that the law should include measures to prevent its use for non-medicinal purposes; and 6.9% were uncertain or had no comment.

Asked to provide suggestions on how legalisation of marijuana for medicinal purposes should be implemented, 53.1% said the law should limit the use of marijuana to some places only, such as hospitals; 36.4% said the law should only allow cultivation of marijuana in certain areas; 29.4% said the law should be strictly enforced and violators should be subject to heavy penalties; 19.9% said people should be educated about the benefits and risks of marijuana use; 8.8% said the medical marijuana laws used by other countries should be adjusted and used as a model for Thailand; and 6.8% said free trade in marijuana for medicinal purposes should be allowed.