Thai Plan to Curb Cannabis Use Triggered by Medical-Costs Jump
Liberal use of cannabis became a hot-button political issue ahead of Thailand’s national election last year.
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A near six-fold jump in costs of cannabis for medical purposes triggered the need to restrict consumption of the herb, according to Thailand’s Health Ministry.
Total medical expenditure for illnesses treated with cannabis jumped to between 15 billion baht ($407 million) and 21 billion baht after the government decriminalized its use two years ago, Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said in a statement on Saturday. That compared with just 3.2 billion baht to 3.8 billion spent in treatment costs between 2019 and 2021, he said, citing an academic study.