Potential Impact of Thailand's Cannabis Policy on Young Adults

In light of the potential negative effects on youth, the absence of regulation of cannabis products following its legalisation has sparked national public health concerns.

FREMONT, CA: There are differences in how various cultures view marijuana and related laws, and there is no universal agreement on the level of cannabis regulation that will provide the best results. Although no national government in Europe has fully embraced the legalisation of cannabis for recreational use, numerous nations have loosened their laws by decriminalising or de-penalizing use and possession. In contrast, until Thailand's historic policy change in 2022, no Asian nation had authorised recreational use.

The Narcotic Act of Thailand, which forbade smoking, possessing, and selling marijuana along with outlining penalties for offenders, had cannabis listed as a class-5 narcotic since 1979. Thailand legalised medical cannabis in 2019 after forty years, as the pro-cannabis movement gained strength on the political and economic fronts. With 3 per cent of the population admitting lifetime use the same year, cannabis was already the most often reported illicit drug use. Since that time, Thai citizens over the age of 20 have been free to register for medical cannabis treatments without running the danger of prosecution. The Thai Food and Drug Administration did not officially declassify cannabis from its classification as a class-5 drug until June 2022, making Thailand the first Asian nation to legalise sales.

After legalisation, the lack of regulation of cannabis products has raised national public health concerns, particularly in light of the possible consequences for young people.

There is conflicting evidence regarding whether legalising cannabis will lead to a rise in young people taking other, "harder" substances. Evidence, however, points to the legalisation of cannabis as a factor in the rise in product potency. New worries about high-potency products include the sharp rises in child psychiatric problem risk, cannabis dependence propensity, and frequency of cannabis usage. Thailand's cannabis policy will need to take into account the changing cannabis potency and its effects on young users' health.

Given that the legal driving age in Thailand is 15 for motorcycles and 18 for cars, another emerging worry is the use of cannabis while driving, particularly among young, inexperienced drivers. There is evidence that using cannabis while driving impairs performance and dramatically increases the likelihood of traffic accidents. There are no statistics on road injuries caused by cannabis, and there are no prohibitions against driving while impaired by cannabis in Thailand. For communities to be aware of this risk and to inform policy for prevention and legal sanctions, surveillance and study on driving while under the influence of cannabis are essential.

While there are worries about poor health results for Thai adolescents, legalising cannabis may have unintended positive effects on social justice and long-term outcomes for public health. When youth consume cannabis legitimately, they may avoid being exposed to dangerous situations and the threat of being detained and imprisoned, both of which harm social determinants of health and mental health.

Unfortunately, a public health viewpoint that could have reduced associated socioeconomic and health hazards was absent from the new legislation. While attempting to restrict underage cannabis access and acknowledging the risks of cannabis-impaired driving, dependence, tainted products, and co-use with other narcotics, the legalisation framework should explicitly say that public health protection is a priority goal.  Tobacco and alcohol control policies can serve as models for public health-focused regulation. This may entail raising pricing through taxation, restricting marketing to young people, banning public consumption, setting clear guidelines for the distribution and monitoring and preventing drunk driving, among other measures. Additionally, a national programme for cannabis-related prevention that emphasises raising public awareness of the dangers of cannabis should be put in place.