Thailand to require medical certificates for buying cannabis
BANGKOK: Thailand is planning to introduce a requirement for medical certificates to be shown when buying cannabis, a senior official said on Thursday (May 22), in a move to tighten control of marijuana use, three years after it was decriminalised.
Thailand was one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise marijuana but did so without a law to govern its sale, production or usage. That led to an instant boom, with tens of thousands of retailers popping up across the country, particularly in tourist hotspots in Bangkok and the resort island of Phuket.
The new regulation, which is expected to be announced within 40 days, will ensure cannabis is used for medical purposes and not recreationally, said Somruek Chungsaman, who heads the health ministry's department of traditional and alternative medicine.
'Anyone who wants to buy cannabis flowers to smoke, Thai or foreign, must have a doctor's prescription for medical use," he told Reuters.'We don't want people saying they came to Thailand just to smoke cannabis. That gives a negative impression."
Thailand's health minister previously said recreational use of marijuana would be banned by the end of last year, but no curbs have yet been placed on the industry, estimated to be worth more than US$1 billion annually.
Authorities have so far issued piecemeal regulations banning cannabis from schools and requiring retailers to provide clear information on usage of cannabis in food and drinks to try to bring the industry under control.
The health ministry is drafting a comprehensive cannabis law, which would need cabinet approval before it is sent to parliament for debate.
Marijuana advocates say the latest requirement of a physician's note was unnecessary because cannabis use was already in decline after an initial surge.
"Cannabis is not popular among youth. In fact, the number of smokers has not increased at all, which has caused many shops to shut down," said Prasitchai Nunual, secretary-general of Thailand's Cannabis Future Network.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
China's Sichuan province to offer extended marriage and maternity leave
HONG KONG: Health authorities in China's southwestern Sichuan province are proposing to extend marriage leave up to 25 days and maternity leave up to 150 days, to help create a "fertility-friendly society" which boosts the country's population. The move comes as China's government struggles to boost birth rates in the world's second-largest economy. China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024 and experts have cautioned the downturn will continue to worsen. Sichuan's Health Commission, which published the draft on its website, is seeking public opinion and comments from May 30 to Jun 30. Sichuan province has a population of 84 million, more than most countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom. The proposal would extend marriage leave by 400 per cent from the five days currently given and more than double the existing 60-day maternity leave period. Sichuan also plans to extend paternity leave to 30 days from 20 days to "facilitate the care of men for their wives after childbirth and help advocate that couples share the responsibility of raising children," authorities said. The province has emerged as one of the more progressive in China. It has allowed unmarried women to access IVF treatment and in 2023 authorities there announced that unmarried individuals would be eligible for benefits reserved for married couples. China's birth rates have been falling for decades as a result of the one-child policy China implemented from 1980 to 2015 as well as rapid urbanisation. The high cost of childcare and education as well as job uncertainty and a slowing economy have also discouraged many young Chinese from getting married and starting a family. Authorities rolled out a series of "fertility friendly" measures in 2024 to minimise the challenge of having roughly 300 million Chinese expected to enter retirement in the coming decade - the equivalent of almost the entire US population. Measures include urging China's colleges and universities to provide "love education" to emphasise positive views on marriage, love, fertility and family. In November, China's State Council, or cabinet, rallied local governments to direct resources towards fixing China's population crisis and spread respect for childbearing and marriages "at the right age".
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Two Jurong hospitals to explore integration with district cooling system
SINGAPORE: Two hospitals in Jurong could become the first in Singapore's healthcare sector to use a district cooling system for air conditioning, following the signing of an agreement with asset operator Keppel on Thursday (Jun 5). Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital – part of the JurongHealth Campus – will explore the feasibility of integrating with Keppel's district cooling system. The system will complement and further optimise their existing efficiency measures, potentially yielding financial savings and reducing their carbon footprint, both hospitals said in a press release. The hospitals currently rely primarily on a centralised chilled water supply for an array of needs, which include round-the-clock cooling for operating theatres, intensive care units and medical equipment. Healthcare institutions also need standby chillers in case of disruptions. ENERGY-EFFICIENT OPTION To optimise energy use, the district cooling system uses technologies such as thermal energy storage and intelligent control, the hospitals said. The system can also provide more reliable and consistent cooling, minimising the risk of disruptions to operations and improving patient comfort. Unlike conventional cooling systems, where each building has its own chiller, the district cooling system plant generates chilled water and distributes it through underground pipes to a network of buildings for air conditioning. At Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and Jurong Community Hospital, the chilled water will be distributed to critical cooling zones such as laboratories and intensive care units. Heat exchangers will transfer the chilled water to their internal air handling units, then return warm water to Keppel's plant for re-chilling, re-cooling and reuse. Besides the hospitals, Keppel's district cooling system will serve future developments in Jurong Lake District, including offices, business parks and residences. As different types of buildings use the cooling system at different times of the day, the demand for cooling is spread out, reducing peak demand and increasing energy efficiency. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) awarded Keppel the contract to develop the district cooling plan there in June 2023. Keppel has estimated the contract will generate approximately S$950 million (US$738 million) for the company over 30 years, according to the release. The plant has a capacity of about 29,000 refrigeration tonnes (RT), roughly equivalent to the cooling capacity of around 19,000 1.5-tonne household air conditioning units. It will provide chilled water and cooling services to an estimated 1.4 million sq m of gross floor area, or close to 200 football fields. Ms Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel's infrastructure division, said the district cooling system is expected to lead to a further 2 per cent optimisation in energy efficiency. "With these energy savings and cost optimisation, a total life cycle cost savings of more than S$7 million over 30 years are expected," she added. Associate Professor Dan Yock Young, the CEO of both hospitals, said that healthcare services consume "significant amounts of energy and water" and generate medical waste. "As one of the key contributors to the climate crisis, it is imperative for us to look into optimising energy efficiency," he said. He added that the district cooling plant could reduce the need to replace and maintain chillers. This could, in turn, free up some of the hospital's rooftop and plant room space, which are occupied by cooling towers and standby chillers, for other meaningful activities such as patient care and therapy. Chief sustainability officer of both hospitals, Mr Ng Kian Swan, called the MOU a 'leap forward' as both institutions 'explore ways to save the planet'. 'The collaboration could set a new benchmark in the healthcare sector,' he said.
CNA
12 hours ago
- CNA
Commentary: ‘I felt abandoned' - caregivers of loved ones with dementia still feel so alone
SINGAPORE: When my grandfather was diagnosed with vascular dementia in the 1990s, my family became caregivers overnight. Back then, there were no hotlines to call, no daycare centres to drop him off at, no respite help to take over when we were exhausted. Today, such programmes exist and offer much-needed relief and education. Yet, these are not lasting solutions when families still feel like they face this isolating journey with little support. Take Mr Lim*, who after his father's dementia diagnosis, received help from the Post-Diagnostic Support (PDS) programme. He had access to a dedicated caseworker, home visits by a multidisciplinary team and personalised care plans. This was a remarkable S$2.6 million initiative by the Lien Foundation and Dementia Singapore, launched in 2020 to help newly diagnosed families, However, support lasts only for a maximum of 12 months, for a disease marked by mid- to long-term decline. 'The caseworker said I'd have to re-apply with the hospital again but we are not a priority anymore. I felt abandoned,' he told me. His father's dementia worsened after support ended. There are no good choices for families: re-navigate hospital referrals to apply for support and wait with uncertainty or shoulder caregiving alone. CAREGIVING LOAD ONLY ESCALATES Dementia is not static; mild cases transition to moderate or severe, demanding escalation of care. The challenges from diagnosis of the reality of long-term caregiving only increase with time. My grandfather, a police station inspector whose career demanded sharp wits and physical vigour, faced a cruel decline after retirement and a stroke. Kept homebound for safety, his active life dwindled to watching TV all day. Over the course of 10 years, dementia robbed him of speech, medications sedated him, his muscles weakened and left him wheelchair-bound, then bedridden with bedsores and reliant on nasal tube feeding. Families toil relentlessly through the pain of grieving someone still alive. All this takes a toll on mental health: 74 per cent of caregivers grapple with overwhelming responsibilities – managing aggression, preventing falls, coping with grief – as revealed by a 2024 joint study by Milieu Insights and Dementia Singapore. Support channels tend to be disjointed. Family and friends are well-meaning but are limited by knowledge, time and emotional strain. Caregivers often turn to public hospitals for practical guidance on managing dementia's complexities. This includes phone consultations that typically last 15 to 20 minutes with nurses at dementia clinics or wards. Non-urgent support requiring doctor's consultation can face longer waiting time, leaving caregivers stranded. Social organisations and support groups provide critical resources but face capacity constraints and come with a cost. They also conduct regular workshops on dementia, but as one caregiver lamented to me: 'After the workshop, we're left with paper printouts – not ongoing follow-up.' The PDS programme's four-year target of assisting 1,400 clients and 1,300 caregivers over four years is a drop in the ocean when over 152,000 are projected to live with dementia by 2030. This underscores a sobering reality: Even well-funded interventions struggle to match the scale of need. Hotline support is closed after office hours. But what about the nights, weekends, and public holidays? Caregiving doesn't take a break. Compare this to Australia's National Dementia Helpline, staffed 24/7 by trained professionals, or the United Kingdom's Admiral Nurses, who journey with families for years. Both nations treat dementia care as continuous education, counselling and crisis prevention – not episodic triage. A CALL FOR SYSTEMIC REINVENTION The gap for caregivers lies in continuity and fragmented coordination. Transforming dementia care in Singapore will require a shift to a more proactive integrated ecosystem. Here are three suggestions: First, invest in lifelong care teams – a permanent support model that pairs families with nurses and social workers who track disease progression. Continuous, evolving support could preempt crises, like falls at home or caregiver burnout. Second, create seamless care pathways. Existing resources can be siloed and time-limited, which is incompatible with the increasing level and cost of caregiving when those with dementia inevitably deteriorate. Ensuring more cross-sector collaboration between hospitals, social agencies and community groups could help make the most of finite resources. Third, apply technology thoughtfully: Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, like an AI hotline agent trained on caregiver interactions could answer non-emergency queries (How to manage refusal to shower?), making care support accessible at all times, thereby reducing reliance on overwhelmed hotlines. MEETING CAREGIVERS WHERE THEY ARE Caregivers today – typically spanning ages 33 to 55, a generation balancing careers, parenting and caregiving – are a digital-first generation. They spend 2 hours and 2 minutes daily according to a local study, on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, seeking answers in stolen moments between work and caregiving. Yet, support systems cling to analog methods: pamphlets, dense websites and bureaucratic loops. Take Helen*, whose father was diagnosed last year. 'After the diagnosis, the nurse gave us a 45-minute overview of dementia, handed a stack of pamphlets and said, 'Approach AIC (Agency for Integrated Care) for further help.' But when we did, the caseworker just sent more website links to read. We felt shuffled and overwhelmed with information, not supported,' she shared with me. Singapore's robust resources are rich in content but poorly adapted to modern consumption. Their reliance on lengthy PDFs and static web pages clashes with the needs of a generation that scrolls, swipes, and searches for instant answers. Imagine AI chatbots guiding users through AIC's respite care applications via WhatsApp, voice assistants 'talking' to users through symptom guides in English, Malay, Tamil or Mandarin, or even Generative AI summarising self-care tips into 30-second TikTok scripts. Compare this to Dementia UK's Instagram, which transforms clinical guidelines into Instagram Reels like '5 Steps After Diagnosis' and carousel posts like 'Is It Dementia or Normal Ageing?' – bite-sized, visually engaging content that meets caregivers mid-scroll. While we do not know how much this moves the needle for UK families, this approach at least taps into modern habits to reach families where they are. Singapore need not reinvent the wheel – only repurpose its existing resources into formats that resonate with a generation relearning how to seek answers. Singapore's dementia care gap deserves more than temporary fixes. Every averted crisis – broken hip from a fall, medication overdose – preserves independence for persons living with dementia and saves families long-term costs. While initiatives like PDS, daycare centres and hotlines are vital steps forward, systemic change demands having proactive ecosystems.
