2023-10-21 04:44:00
Even though the government has changed But marijuana continues to be a controversial topic. The position of the Minister of Public Health is that at this time it has not been taken back as a drug. But it is still unclear whether marijuana inflorescences will eventually be reused as a drug or not?
Before a decision is made on the future of cannabis in the future It is appropriate to consider cannabis thoroughly. Aside from the preconceived notions of attacking cannabis alone,
and to decide on state policy It is essential that there be a comparison with alcohol, cigarettes, and amphetamines, which destroy both health and are many times more prevalent than marijuana.
First of all, it is clear from the research that Smoking marijuana inflorescences is more addictive than alcohol and cigarettes. But alcohol and cigarettes are readily available at convenience stores. It was also found that children and youth have easier access to marijuana.
The 2011 research presented in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal is a study of a large population. A sample of 15,918 smokers, 28,907 alcohol and marijuana were surveyed, with as many as 7,389 people surveyed. It was found that from the first use, smoking has a 67.5% chance of being addicted to cigarettes, the first time drinking alcohol. There is a 22.7% chance of being addicted to alcohol, and if you smoke marijuana for the first time, you have a maximum chance of being addicted to marijuana, only 8.9%.
Marijuana has an 8.9% chance of being addicted, 2.5 times less than alcohol and 7.5 times less than cigarettes. In addition, alcohol and cigarettes can be bought and sold in general stores and convenience stores. Why alcohol and cigarettes don’t have to be considered drugs There is no need for laws enforced by the drug suppression police. or the Office of the Narcotics Control Board in any way
Second, drinking to the point of being “drunk” has the potential to easily cause quarrels. And there is a chance of committing a crime incomparably more than when drunk with marijuana, because if consumed in excess, marijuana can cause “Terror” and “sleep”
A study in 2017 found that Thai people drink 7.1 liters of alcohol/person/year, ranking 3rd in Asia. The youngest person who drinks is 9 years old. Drinking alcohol is a gateway to other serious problems. The results of the study comparing students who drink alcohol with students who do not drink alcohol found that
“Students who drink alcohol increase the risk of carrying a weapon 2.96 times, students who drink alcohol increase the risk of fighting and fighting 3.38 times, those who are intentionally attacked by the boyfriend of a student who drinks alcohol 3.08 times,
Especially young people, drinking alcohol has the effect of causing violent acts, including assault cases. and raping women while drinking alcohol, 34.8%, and more than 50% committed the offense within 5 hours of drinking alcohol, and at the time of the offense they were also intoxicated.”
The question is: “Marijuana” is about 2.5 times more likely to become addicted than “alcohol,” but marijuana does not pose a risky behavior. “Commit violence” or risk “criminal” like being addicted to alcohol. Which should we be more concerned about: “alcohol” or “marijuana”?
In particular, access to alcohol is incomparably “easier” than access to marijuana because it is in every convenience store. and in front of the school and religious places as well Why isn’t society more concerned about alcohol being more of a problem than marijuana?
The study found that Thai people spend 4.5 minutes buying alcoholic beverages, with an average distance of 342 meters, including those around higher education institutions in Bangkok. There are an average of 57 shops in every 1 square kilometer. In particular, people under 20 years of age were able to successfully purchase 98.7% of alcohol.
It is not only the issue of alcohol that is a problem for society in terms of being easily addicted. and causing social violence problems only But alcohol clearly has health problems as well.
Third, alcohol and cigarettes damage health in many dimensions. This is in contrast to marijuana, which is an herb that has the ability to reduce the import of many foreign medicines.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has compiled 59 years of research on carcinogens from around the world since its founding and has announced that it has found empirical evidence that beverages alcohol It is the cause of type 1 cancer in many organs.[4]
Alcohol is also known to increase the risk of many types of cancer, including: oral cancer Laryngeal cancer, breast cancer, epithelial cancer of the upper gastrointestinal tract, liver cancer, esophageal cancer. Colon and rectal cancer[4]
What’s interesting is that throughout the 58 years since the founding of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization, There has never been sufficient evidence to put “marijuana” on the list of carcinogens or increase the risk of cancer.
In addition, Dr. Wanaporn Thongchom, nutrition expert Nutrition subject group Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University It has been summarized in an article. “Popular diseases caused by alcohol” include:
Group of diseases of the brain and nervous system, including dementia and impaired brain development, hallucinations, nervous system disorders, depression, numbness in the tips of the fingers and toes.
The cardiovascular system disease group includes heart disease and coronary artery disease. Stroke abnormal blood fat High blood pressure
The gastrointestinal and liver group includes gastritis. Pancreatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, liver cancer
Group of chronic diseases and other disorders, diabetes, gout, alcoholism, adrenal gland dysfunction. Causes abnormal hormone secretion and malnutrition
People who drink alcohol regularly have a 1.2-5 times higher chance of getting cancer than people who don’t drink, and it is the cause of many types of cancer, such as oral cancer. Laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer.
But in contrast to marijuana, it reduces the risk of various diseases. Symptoms improved to much better and reduce the use of modern medicine
Cannabis plays a role in promoting health. Addiction Study Center has reported a study of the second phase of monitoring the situation of medical marijuana use and services during 2020-2021. It was found that up to 94 percent of patients received marijuana outside the Ministry of Public Health system and there were people using marijuana outside of indications. Used in various diseases This is in addition to the announcement of the Ministry of Public Health, up to 84 percent, which means that most people who use medical marijuana use it illegally. Because most doctors don’t prescribe marijuana.
But the results of the study found that after using marijuana, symptoms improved to as much as 93 percent. In addition, those who used marijuana reduced and stopped using modern medicine by up to 58 percent, which means that there are likely to be some people who lose results. Benefits from the agreed sales of modern medicine.
In line with the Public Library Science Journal, PLoSOne has published a study of US states that have legalized marijuana. (both medical and recreational) over a 22-year period from 1996-2019 found that “overall drug sales decreased”
Legislation that would legalize marijuana in the United States would reduce drug manufacturers’ annual sales by an average of $3 billion per year. It is also predicted that the remaining 16 states that have not yet legalized marijuana will increase the cost of modern medicine. decreased by approximately 11 percent
The same was true in the April 2022 issue of Health Economics, a survey of drug dispensing in U.S. states after it was administered. “Recreation is legal” found that there was a reduction in the use of various drugs: the population used antidepressants decreased by 11.1 percent, the population used anti-anxiety drugs decreased by 12.2 percent, and the population decreased drug use. pain relief by 8%, the population reduced the use of epilepsy medication by 9.5%, the population reduced antipsychotic medication by 10.7%, the population reduced the use of sleeping pills by 10.8%.
In addition, an epidemiological survey in the United States found that Americans who consumed marijuana were 2.4 times less likely to have diabetes than those who did not use marijuana, with 8.7 percent of those who had never used marijuana at all. While people who used marijuana 1-4 times per month had diabetes, 4.2 percent and people who used marijuana 5 or more times per month had diabetes, only 3.2 percent.[9]
Marijuana also reduces the risk of certain types of cancer. By researching Marijuana use and urinary tract cancer in England It was found that people who had used marijuana developed urinary tract cancer. (Kidney and prostate) “significantly less” than people who have never used marijuana as follows: Prostate cancer: People who have never used marijuana. 4% had prostate cancer, only 2% of those who had used marijuana had prostate cancer, or a twofold difference; Kidney cancer: People who have never used marijuana have kidney cancer at 0.16 percent, while people who have used marijuana have only 0.08 percent, or a two-fold difference.[10]
However, “marijuana” is not only more difficult to get addicted to than “alcohol,” but the opposite is true. “Cannabis may also have the opportunity to help reduce alcohol consumption.”
By research published on the website Sciencedirect Through a journal about international drug policy called International Journal of Drug Policy, December 2018 issue 2020, which published the research of a Canadian research group. It was found that people who used medical marijuana in Canada were also more likely to reduce their alcohol use.
The survey found that about 44% of people who used medical marijuana reduced the frequency of their alcohol use over the 30 days, about 34% reduced the amount of alcohol they drank from the standard they had drunk in the past week, and about 8% who have not drank alcohol in the past 30 days
This research clearly summarizes the following:
“It is suggested by our findings that initiation of medical cannabis use may be associated with reduction and cessation of alcohol use. Alcohol is the most widely used recreational substance in North America. And drinking alcohol has a significant effect on crime rates, morbidity rates, and death rates. This discovery may help improve health outcomes among people who use medical marijuana. along with improving public health and overall public safety.”
Research presented from Canada hopes cannabis will reduce alcohol consumption and lead to violence and crime in that society. A case study has also appeared in the Netherlands where the use of marijuana is classified as a “soft drug” in both medical and recreational areas. In order to reduce drugs that have severe effects (Hard Drug) and ultimately lead to a reduction in crime problems, until “abandoned prisons” and the Netherlands have reached the point of having to import prisoners from abroad.
There is probably no need to mention many case studies. Marijuana has also made many people reduce their addiction to methamphetamine.
As for the case of children and youth illegally using marijuana, it is “already illegal.” The only thing left is law enforcement. and increase the punishment for those who sell to children and youth only.
But if comparing the number “Children and youth illegally use marijuana” probably cannot be compared to the number. Children and youth who illegally smoke and drink alcohol Because access is very different.
And if we compare the “number” of people who benefit from Thailand in the treatment of disease and health, millions of people probably cannot be compared with the number “Children and youths” are often used as excuses and hostages with an increasing percentage. Without ever considering weighing the “number” in terms of benefits to the people, which is much greater, is that true?
The best solution is to reveal information without bias Open information without conflicts of interest from interests with the pharmaceutical business and medical capital groups. Any part that is a problem has heavy measures and punishments. Any part that is useful in medicine and public health must be left to the rights and freedoms of the people.
With best wishes
Panthep Puaphongphan
Dean of the College of Oriental Medicine Rangsit University
18 October 2023
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