NIDA Poll: Majority of Thais Support Reclassifying Cannabis as Narcotic; Public Backs Medical Use Over Recreational

National—

In 2024, Thailand’s first survey center, NIDA Poll, announced for the first time with 1,310 people surveyed from May 14th to 15th to propose a change in cannabis to a narcotic illegal drug from 2024.The survey was based on 1 310 respondents with age above 15, in varied professions and income levels in Thailand as reported by NIDA. The survey was conducted by the multi-stage random sampling through telephone interviews. This is according to the surveyors claiming that the confidence value was set at 97% in as far as the accuracy of the results was concerned.Another piece of evidence has come from another survey which has inquired about people’s sentiments about the thought of considering cannabis as a narcotic 53. Answer at least 74% of respondents agreed but added that it also has medical and economic benefits. : 59% agreed and remarked that cannabis is useless which means that they believe cannabis has no positive effect. 60% disagreed, and 1. 07% were unsure.With regards to the public perceptions approach on the government’s cannabis policy 74. 58% of rrespondents argued that it should be for medical and therapeutic purposes alone 19%. 39% showed the response that the government should consider no policy to support cannabis or cannabis products, 10. 7% of them argued that it should back legal cannabis products while 53% held a different view. 40 per cent for raising general public income Three. 21% for recreation and leisure and 0. In all, 99% responded that they were not sure or did not respond.Regarding the question of restoring cannabis to the Narcotics List, 60. 38% of the respondents marked 3 which strongly agreed and 15% wrote 3. 27% somewhat agreed, 14. 50% strongly disagreed, 8. 93% somewhat disagreed, 7% strongly disagreed, and 0% totally disagreed. Uncertain: 92% either did not answer or responded they did not know.Regarding the following scenario regarding compensation of cannabis farmers or businesses if cannabis is rescheduled as illegal narcotic: 46. 35% of the respondents supported the proposition that the government should not compensate anyone at all. 10% believed that the government ought to compensate both the cannabis farmers and businesses.

“2% of respondents believed that compensation should be solely for the farmers.”

Only cannabis businesses should be paid. 88% either responded undecided or failed to give their answer.

lastly, in terms of their experiences with cannabis, 68. Further, 93% indicated that they had no experience in consuming cannabis, and 31. 07% had some experience.