Experts rubbish infographic comparing ‘benefits of cannabis’ to ‘dangers of alcohol’

Linda Rider

Copyright AFP 2017-2022. All legal rights reserved.

  

Soon after Thailand relaxed its hashish guidelines in June 2022, an infographic juxtaposing the overall health positive aspects of the drug against the hazards of liquor circulated across a number of social media posts. Even so, health and fitness gurus say the statements are misleading — when hashish can ease some overall health conditions, the infographic overstates its therapeutic properties.

The infographic was shared right here on Facebook on April 9, 2022, with the caption “points that we should really know”.

It has two columns comparing the purported consequences of alcoholic beverages and cannabis:

“Alcoholic beverages: much more addictive Ganja: much less addictive

“Alcoholic beverages: destroys wellbeing Ganja: nourishes health and fitness

“Liquor: leads to cancer Ganja: treats cancer

“Alcohol: 400,000 dead each and every year Ganja: no a person has at any time died

“Alcohol: squander of income Ganja: valuable and truly worth the price

“Alcoholic beverages: day-to-day lethal overdoses Ganja: overdoses are not lethal

“Alcoholic beverages: destroys the liver, mind, and other cells Ganja: shields, nourishes and improves cells

“Liquor: toxic Ganja: protector, heals, cures

“Liquor: hungover, headache, painful Ganja: snooze very well, content, de-anxiety

“Alcohol: is a rationale of violence and fights Ganja: superior temper, serene smiles, rest”

Screenshot of the deceptive Fb put up, taken on June 23, 2022

  

The infographic circulated just after Thailand announced in February that cannabis would be taken out from the country’s listing of banned narcotics.

The leisure of the country’s cannabis guidelines arrived into impact in June 2022, shifting from earlier rigid penalties in direction of decriminalising possession and cultivation — as lengthy as merchandise made with the plant consist of a lot less than .2 per cent of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The exact same impression has been shared alongside very similar statements on Facebook right here, below and right here.

Nevertheless, health and fitness professionals reported the infographic was deceptive, selectively pitting the worst effects of alcohol from some of the constructive results of cannabis and is like “evaluating sheep to goats”.

“Extended use of hashish poses a chance to our system organs, these kinds of as the lungs and the brain,” mentioned Dr Adisornsuda Fuengfoo, a specialist in youngster progress with the Royal College of Pediatricians of Thailand.

Dr Thira Woratanarat, an affiliate professor of preventive drugs at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn College, also told AFP that extensive-expression use of cannabis could change the brain’s composition.

“Scientific tests have shown long-phrase-marijuana use can have long lasting consequences on the user’s cognitive talents, this kind of as memory, learning, and motivation,” Thira said.

Claim: Cannabis ‘less addictive’

Marijuana is the 3rd most typically used addictive drug soon after tobacco and liquor, according to  the United States National Institutes of Health.

Both liquor and compounds observed in the marijuana plant are addictive and really should not be straight when compared, Thira mentioned.

“When we just take a material, our bodies will establish much more tolerance, which in convert pushes the consumer to get a better dosage to expertise the very same outcomes,” he described.

Declare: Hashish ‘nourishes health’

Thira pointed out that the use of hashish in present day medication “remains minimal” and is used only as an option treatment.

In Thailand, cannabidiol (CBD) — the next most prevalent energetic ingredient in cannabis — has been authorised for professional medical use, but Adisornsuda mentioned the declare that cannabis “nourishes health” is false.

“Stating cannabis is wholesome is not exact,” she said.

Declare: ‘Cancer treatment’

AFP has debunked the assert that hashish can address cancer and other disorders below.

CBD has been permitted for use to mitigate the side-results of cancer therapy, which could incorporate nausea and deficiency of urge for food, Dr Nicha Zungsontiporn, a lecturer from the oncology division of Chulalongkorn University and The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Clinic instructed AFP previously.

It is not applied as a “immediate treatment method”, she reported.

Adisornsuda reported: “In Thailand, clinical marijuana is approved for use in youngsters in two scenarios, to handle extreme seizures and for terminally sick most cancers patients to ease their soreness.”

Claim: Cannabis ‘has not triggered deaths’

In accordance to a push launch from Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and fitness on July 11, 2022, 14 scenarios of hospitalisation relevant to cannabis use among people today beneath the age of 20 had been recorded among June 21 and July 10 — immediately after the kingdom comfortable its legal guidelines. 

Adisornsuda said the results of overdosing on marijuana can vary from person to human being and could be lethal in severe cases, such as in people with serious allergy symptoms.

“Cannabis can induce hallucinations or paranoia, though in significant conditions we have recorded the person becoming agitated and violent.”

Thira also explained the claim was untrue and pointed out a study in the US point out of Oregon, conducted involving 2015 and 2017, which recorded the death of one particular 70-year-previous guy who designed chest ache and palpitations inside minutes of inhaling a THC focus.

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