The health, economic, and social effects of cannabis use in Thailand

Abstract

Background: Controversy surrounds the harm and benefit of cannabis use. Further research on the impact of cannabis might guide the government in developing appropriate policies. This research aims to examine the health, economic, and social effects of cannabis use in Thailand. Methods: From a prospective cohort of 261 cannabis users in Kalasin province, Thailand, we followed 45 cannabis users over 1 year as part of an in-depth study. Quantitative and qualitative data on the health, social, and economic consequences of use were gathered. In-depth interviews, participant observation by researchers during home visits , and self-report instruments were utilized. To supplement the cannabis users’ data, we also collected data from 10 health personnel, 16 community leaders, and 480 laypeople.    Results: Our results indicate that cannabis use causes health problems. We determined the disability-adjusted life years of cannabis users and found a total loss of 120.09 years and a mean loss of 0.78 years. The possible economic impacts of cannabis treatment include medical expenses, loss of revenue for both cannabis users and their caregivers, and costs due to law enforcement and possible lawsuits. The economic costs measured during the study period totaled 1,561,460 baht, of which 1,347,950 was attributed to the costs of law enforcement and legal prosecution. However, we found no costs due to accidental losses. Cannabis does appear to not cause community conflict or crime. Despite this, cannabis use remains a social problem, and has been associated with outbreaks of illegal drug use. Conclusions: This study showed that using cannabis can harm users, their family, and society as a whole. This should be essential for policy advocacy.