Thai Cannabis has been understood as a medical solution here for over a thousand years. In recent years, scientific research has begun to establish empirical evidence for the medical benefits — the healing impacts — of cannabis, and more people are turning to cannabis as a natural treatment option. All Thai weed was medical until it wasn’t. Then some became “recreational”. The question is, does this new adjective for weed make any sense at all once you stop and think it through.
Thailand has not only legalized cannabis for medicinal use, but legal reform has taken the entire plant, including the flower, off the list of narcotics. Such a policy places cannabis patients’ needs over the need to distinguish between recreational and medical use. Classifying Ganja as an over-the-counter herbal medicine guarantees easy access to the healing properties of cannabis and leaves it to adult consumers to use their meds in an adult fashion.
Who Says All Thai Weed is Medical
DTAM has approved the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and has established regulations and guidelines for the use and distribution of cannabis in Thailand. According to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM), cannabis has been used to treat a wide range of conditions such as chronic pain, insomnia, and anxiety, nausea and skin irritation.
Contemporary infographic on healing impact of cannabis
One study conducted in Thailand found that cannabis can help to reduce symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The study found that cannabis can help to reduce muscle spasms, pain, and stiffness associated with multiple sclerosis.
Another study conducted in Thailand found that cannabis can help to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study found that cannabis can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia associated with PTSD.
Chinese Painting of Healing Impact of Cannabis, circa 1500 BC
Cannabis as Preventive Medicine
The best example of cannabis as a preventive medicine has to be sleep. One of the most well-known medical benefits of cannabis is its ability to reduce chronic pain. A sleepless night is hardly something to get concerned about. But what about 3 a week? The reason cannabis is so effective with insomnia is connected to a recent scientific finding. A study published in the European Journal of Pain found that cannabis can help to reduce chronic pain by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is responsible for regulating various physiological processes in the body, and cannabis can help to restore balance to the ECS, which can help to reduce pain.
Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that cannabis can help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by interacting with the ECS. The study found that cannabis can increase the levels of anandamide, an endocannabinoid that is known to regulate mood, in the body. This can help to improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Cannabis can also help to improve sleep by interacting with the ECS. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that cannabis can help to improve sleep by increasing the levels of anandamide in the body. This can help to reduce insomnia and improve the overall quality of sleep.
About Carl K Linn
I’m Carl K Linn and I have over 20 years of experience as a writing consultant. In the past, I provided content solutions for thought leaders in personal investing (Registered Investment Advisers & Wealth Managers) in the US. Since 2019, I’ve been in Thailand writing about cannabis and working with international business leaders in the global cannabis industry.