#Cannabis

A large international genetic study released today strengthens the view that biology plays a meaningful role in who uses cannabis and who may develop problematic use. Researchers analyzed genetic data from more than 130,000 participants to identify regions of the genome associated with cannabis use and how often people use the drug. The work points to two specific genes, CADM2 and GRM3, as being related to lifetime cannabis use and frequency of use, respectively. Beyond those findings, the study reports dozens of additional gene signals and a broad pattern of genetic overlap with traits tied to psychiatric health, cognition, and physical well-being. The central message is clear: genetics helps shape early cannabis-related behaviors, which may influence who ends up facing cannabis use disorder, even as environment, policy, and personal choices steer the ultimate outcomes.

A recent ecological momentary assessment study of U.S. veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms suggests that cannabis may be linked to short-term relief of PTSD symptoms, but the authors caution that this does not prove lasting benefit or a recommended therapy. In the study, days when veterans reported more PTSD symptoms tended to be followed by days with higher negative affect, and vice versa. On days when participants reported being high from cannabis for longer periods, they also tended to report fewer PTSD symptoms and lower negative affect, but these changes appeared to occur within the same day rather than persist across days. The study, published in Psychiatry Research, offers a nuanced picture of how daily mood and symptom fluctuations relate to cannabis use in a real-world setting. It is important to stress that the observed patterns do not establish causation and that the effects were modest, with several caveats.

A new international study provides striking evidence that cannabis exposure could affect female fertility at the cellular level and may lower the likelihood of producing chromosomally normal embryos in IVF. The research, published in a leading science journal, combined a retrospective clinical analysis of follicular fluid from patients undergoing IVF with a laboratory investigation using immature human egg cells. In the clinical arm, researchers detected traces of THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, in a small but notable portion of follicular fluid samples. In the lab arm, they exposed immature egg cells to THC and examined how these cells mature, how their chromosomes align, and how their gene expression changes. Taken together, the study suggests that cannabis exposure could be linked to changes in oocyte maturation, chromosome segregation, and ultimately the chromosomal health of embryos.

A groundbreaking study from the University of Toronto raises a cautionary flag for anyone undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF): high levels of cannabis exposure may be linked to chromosomal abnormalities in eggs used for IVF. Researchers tested 1,059 samples of follicular fluid—the fluid surrounding developing eggs—and found that 62 samples contained tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive component of cannabis. In fluids with detectable THC, immature egg cells tended to show more chromosomal abnormalities, and these eggs tended to mature faster than those without THC. The researchers then repeated some experiments with eggs from 24 consenting patients and observed a similar pattern: unfertilized eggs exposed to THC concentrations higher than the study’s average exhibited nearly 10 percent more chromosome errors and reached maturation more quickly. While the findings point to a potential reproductive risk, the study authors caution that the small sample size means other factors, most notably age, could influence results and were not fully controlled.

A new naturalistic study suggests that people with anxiety who use cannabis may experience stronger emotional responses to stress, but also faster emotional recovery after a calming intervention. The findings, drawn from real-world cannabis use rather than tightly controlled lab conditions, add nuance to the ongoing debate about whether cannabis helps or hinders emotional regulation in anxiety. The research also points to distinct differences between product types: THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and balanced THC-CBD options appear to have different physiological and mood-related effects, especially in the hours and weeks after use.

A new wave of research is drawing a clearer line between cannabis potency and mental health outcomes, suggesting that highly potent cannabis products may significantly raise the risk of psychosis, including conditions such as schizophrenia, as well as increasing the likelihood of cannabis use disorders. While the headline sounds stark, scientists emphasize that the story is nuanced: potency matters, but individual risk is shaped by age, frequency of use, genetic susceptibility, and the social environment. For Thailand, where conversations about cannabis are evolving and families juggle concerns about youth, mental well-being, and cultural norms, these findings land with urgency and a need for careful, compassionate action.

Individuals who use cannabis may face a markedly increased risk of developing oral cancer, with recent research suggesting that this risk could be similar to that experienced by cigarette smokers. This emerging evidence is raising concerns among health experts globally and is especially relevant for Thai policymakers, medical professionals, and the public as cannabis laws and usage patterns continue to shift in Thailand.

The latest study, summarized by Earth.com, provides robust evidence that regular cannabis users are at a significantly higher risk of developing oral cancers. Oral cancer, which encompasses cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat, is already a major public health issue in Thailand and across Southeast Asia, with known risk factors including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and betel quid chewing. Now, cannabis can be added to this list of significant concerns.

A growing body of medical research indicates that regular cannabis use is linked to a higher risk of oral cancers, including cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue, and throat. Experts say these findings are especially relevant as cannabis use expands across Thailand.

According to studies from leading cancer research institutions, the risk of oral cancer rises with sustained cannabis consumption and can be comparable to risks associated with tobacco. Thai health professionals emphasize the potential impact on the country’s healthcare system where oral cancers already pose a significant challenge.

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Diego has revealed that individuals diagnosed with cannabis use disorder are three times more likely to develop oral cancer compared to those without the disorder. This ground-breaking finding, published in July 2025, raises significant concerns for public health officials in Thailand, where the decriminalization of cannabis has triggered a surge in cannabis consumption, especially among young adults and recreational users.

A large UC San Diego study finds that individuals with cannabis use disorder are about three times more likely to develop oral cancer than those without the disorder. Published in mid-2025, the research arrives as Thailand expands cannabis access, raising public health questions for a country navigating rapid legalization and shifting social norms.

Oral cancer affects the mouth, gums, and throat and remains a global health challenge, including in Thailand, where oral cavity cancers contribute a notable share of cancer deaths. Traditional risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use have long driven these outcomes. The UC San Diego study analyzed hundreds of thousands of electronic health records and identified a robust link between chronic, problematic cannabis use and higher oral cancer risk, after careful adjustment for tobacco and alcohol consumption.

A major policy reversal puts Thailand back on a tightly regulated path for cannabis. As of late June, buying cannabis nationwide requires a doctor’s prescription. The aim is to limit use to medical and health contexts, winding back the era of dispensaries and weed cafés that drew tourists from Bangkok to Pattaya.

The shift unsettles a sector that blossomed after decriminalization in 2022. Thailand had become a regional cannabis destination, boosting local tourism and small businesses. Health authorities now argue that liberalization outpaced regulation, pointing to concerns such as rising addiction, underage use, street smoking, and cross-border smuggling.

Thailand, once praised as Asia’s first to decriminalize cannabis, is tightening controls amid controversy and regulatory confusion. New rules require both locals and visitors to hold a medical prescription to purchase cannabis. This marks a sharp turn from the “green rush” that had turned busy streets into cannabis hubs, and aims to restore order to an industry many say grew faster than the system could manage.

The cannabis story in Thailand has drawn wide attention across Asia. The 2025 shift reflects a clash between economic potential, public health, and the country’s image as a regional innovator with deep cultural roots. For Thai readers, the changes touch on health policy, youth behavior, law enforcement, rural livelihoods, and the country’s tourism brand.

A new wave of scientific research challenges some of the most common beliefs about using cannabis to treat health problems such as pain, insomnia, and mental health symptoms like paranoia, highlighting important lessons for Thai readers at a time when medical marijuana access is rapidly expanding in Thailand and across Asia.

The use of cannabis as medicine has surged since Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to decriminalize cannabis plants in 2022—a move initially aimed to stimulate medical innovation and boost the economy through wellness tourism. But as ever more Thais purchase cannabis products online and at street dispensaries, fresh global research underscores that the effectiveness—and risks—of cannabis for many health problems are far from settled, with strong implications for the Thai public, patients, and caregivers (Washington Post, Medical News Today).

A surge of recent research questions common beliefs about cannabis as a medicine for pain, insomnia, and mental health symptoms such as paranoia. The findings matter for Thai readers as medical cannabis access expands in Thailand and across Asia.

Cannabis has entered mainstream health discussions since Thailand decriminalized cannabis plants in 2022. The move aimed to spur medical innovation and wellness tourism. Yet as more Thais buy cannabis products online and at street dispensaries, new global research shows that evidence on effectiveness and risks is far from settled. This has clear implications for patients, caregivers, and clinicians in Thailand.

New global research paints a nuanced picture of cannabis’ effects on insomnia, chronic pain, and anxiety. Large studies from Australia and the United States show real improvements in quality of life for some patients, but also raise concerns about potential mental health risks such as paranoia, psychosis, and broader psychiatric issues.

For Thai readers, the findings emphasize a careful, evidence-based approach as Thailand continues to navigate its cannabis policy changes. The latest research offers cautious optimism about therapeutic potential while underscoring the need for robust safeguards and education.

Amid rising global interest and legal reforms surrounding cannabis, recent research is painting a complex picture of its true effects on common health problems such as insomnia, chronic pain, and anxiety. A series of large-scale studies from Australia to the United States highlight encouraging long-term improvements in quality of life for patients with stubborn conditions, but also raise serious caution about potential mental health risks such as paranoia, psychosis, and increased risk of psychiatric disorders.

A wave of new research is drawing unprecedented connections between marijuana use and serious cardiovascular risks, overturning widely-held beliefs that cannabis is relatively harmless. Large-scale studies published in mid-2025 point to a significantly increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death among users of marijuana—a finding that experts caution should inform personal and public health choices in Thailand and worldwide (The New York Times; Fox News; Virgin Islands Consortium).

As marijuana use undergoes rapid normalization, with legal medical and recreational access expanding across the world, researchers warn that its cardiac dangers are becoming clearer and more urgent. In Thailand, where medicinal cannabis was legalized in 2022 and recreational use remains in legal limbo, these findings arrive as lawmakers and public health officials debate the way forward in marijuana regulation and education (CNN).

New research released in 2025 strengthens concerns about marijuana’s impact on heart health. Large-scale studies show cannabis users face higher risks of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death compared with non-users. These findings arrive as Thailand debates cannabis regulation and public health messaging amid growing access to medical cannabis and ongoing questions about recreational use.

Recent analyses indicate that marijuana’s active compounds, especially THC, can affect blood vessels, heart rate, and blood pressure. In Thailand, where medicinal cannabis was legalized in 2022 and recreational use remains unresolved, experts say the new evidence underscores the need for careful policy making and consumer education. Public health officials note that the tone of messaging around cannabis—often framed as “natural medicine”—must now include clear information about cardiovascular risks.

As more older adults in Thailand and around the world turn to cannabis to address chronic pain, insomnia and mental health struggles, a surge of recent research is revealing that age dramatically increases the health risks posed by this once-taboo plant. With the global push towards cannabis legalization and growing acceptance for therapeutic use, experts are warning that older bodies and minds are particularly vulnerable to the potent effects of modern cannabis products—placing Thailand’s rapidly aging population at risk of unanticipated harm (NY Times, Seattle Times).

A growing number of older adults in Thailand and worldwide are turning to cannabis to ease chronic pain, insomnia, and mood issues. New research shows age significantly heightens the health risks of modern cannabis products, prompting serious concern as Thailand’s aging society expands. The trend is fueled by changing laws, shifting attitudes, and aggressive marketing aimed at “wisdom customers,” but health experts warn that older bodies are more vulnerable to the potent effects of today’s cannabis.

Recent U.S. research shows a sharp rise in cannabis use among adults 65 and older. From 2021 to 2023, use grew by about 46%, with roughly one in seven seniors reporting cannabis use in the past month. This marks a dramatic shift from two decades ago and highlights new public health considerations as societies age, including Thailand, which is watching international trends closely.

Why this matters for Thai readers lies in Thailand’s evolving stance on medical cannabis. Since legalization steps began in 2018 and continued with decriminalization in 2022, access to cannabis products has increased. As Thailand’s elderly population grows, international experience offers lessons for health care, regulation, and social norms in the kingdom.

The latest findings from US-based research show that marijuana use among seniors has surged to unprecedented levels, sparking both celebration and concern within the medical community. According to multiple 2025 reports and studies, the rate of cannabis use among adults aged 65 and older rose by nearly 46% from 2021 to 2023, with approximately one in every seven seniors now reporting cannabis use in the past month. This dramatic shift, up from just 1 in 100 twenty years ago, reflects not only changing generational attitudes towards cannabis but also signals new public health challenges and opportunities for societies embracing an aging population—Thailand included (Axios, FOX News, WGAU Radio).

A growing body of research warns that cannabis use among older adults carries increasing health risks, a concern that grows as legalization expands and social attitudes shift. A recent analysis highlights a sharp rise in cannabis consumption among people aged 65 and older, sparking urgent discussions among health professionals about safety, regulation, and how Thailand should respond in its rapidly aging society.

A cautionary incident underscores the issue: a 76-year-old woman seeking insomnia relief consumed several THC-laced edibles in one night, experiencing anxiety and heart palpitations that led to an emergency visit. She recovered and was discharged, but the episode illustrates vulnerabilities many seniors face. As a geriatrician notes, aging brains are more sensitive to psychoactive substances, a reality for Thai seniors with hypertension or arrhythmias, where drug interactions and falls could amplify risks.

A growing wave of scientific research is sounding the alarm on the increasing health risks linked to cannabis use among older adults, as usage climbs to record levels amidst expanded legalization and shifting social attitudes. The latest analysis, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), reveals a sharp uptick in cannabis consumption by individuals aged 65 and older, igniting urgent debate among health experts about the safety, efficacy, and regulation of cannabis use in Thailand’s rapidly aging society.