#DrugPolicy

A groundbreaking new study has sent shockwaves through the medical and public health communities by revealing that cannabis use could be more dangerous for the heart than cocaine. The research, published recently in the esteemed journal Heart, synthesizes data from over 432 million individuals and challenges widespread perceptions about the safety of cannabis, especially as legalization expands globally. For Thailand, where decriminalization and policy debates about cannabis are accelerating, the study’s findings carry urgent implications for users and policymakers alike.

In a landmark scientific breakthrough, researchers have engineered fruit flies to voluntarily consume cocaine, establishing the world’s first insect model for studying the genetic and neurological roots of cocaine addiction. This innovative approach, announced in the Journal of Neuroscience and led by experts at the University of Utah, promises to accelerate the discovery of effective treatments for one of the most challenging substance use disorders worldwide, opening new horizons for both basic research and therapeutic development (NeuroscienceNews.com).

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 new wave of scientific concern is cresting over cannabis use, as recent research finds that using marijuana—whether smoked or eaten in gummies—is directly associated with significant risks to heart health. The findings, published in JAMA Cardiology and led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), upend the common belief that cannabis is a safer or even harmless alternative to tobacco, particularly as legalization and recreational use continue to rise worldwide, including in Thailand.

A wave of fresh research is prompting Thai psychiatrists and families to reconsider long-held assumptions about psychosis, as scientists explore the crucial differences between substance-induced and primary psychotic disorders. This emerging body of evidence, highlighted in a recent Medscape report, could help guide better diagnosis, tailored treatment, and more hopeful outcomes for patients across Thailand.

Psychosis, a condition marked by a loss of contact with reality—often via hallucinations or delusions—has long been categorized into those primarily caused by a psychiatric illness, like schizophrenia, and others triggered by substance use, such as methamphetamine (“ya ba”) or cannabis. Understanding whether symptoms are “primary” (intrinsic to psychiatric illness) or “substance-induced” (caused by drug or alcohol use) shapes every aspect of medical care, but until now, the true distinctions have often been blurred, fueling debates among clinicians and researchers worldwide.

A groundbreaking study has revealed that individuals who use cannabis heavily enough to require emergency hospital care are at a significantly elevated risk of developing dementia within five years, sparking debate among health experts and the public at large, including in Thailand. According to the research, which involved more than six million Canadians, nearly 5% of those admitted to emergency departments or hospitals due to cannabis-related issues were diagnosed with dementia within five years. Alarmingly, this figure rose to 19% within ten years after such incidents, highlighting a concerning new link between cannabis use and long-term brain health (Local 12, The New York Times, CNN, JAMA Neurology).

A wave of recent studies is drawing global attention to a striking trend: the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in cannabis – the primary compound responsible for the drug’s psychoactive “high” – is now far more potent than in previous decades. According to new data reported by Axios, the average THC level in U.S. cannabis has quadrupled since the 1990s, signaling both significant changes for cannabis users and new health concerns for society at large Axios. For Thai readers—whether policymakers, healthcare providers, students, or parents—the global surge in high-potency cannabis raises important questions about public health, legal approaches, and cultural attitudes toward marijuana.