OPINION

Not a gateway drug

Re: "Study finds 30% of cannabis drinks exceed legal THC limit", (BP, June 19) and "Anutin defends pot decriminalisation," (BP, June 15).

I agree that cannabis with THC should be carefully regulated. Despite so, the recent hospitalisations and the one death linked to cannabis consumption are an anomaly, indicating the substance must have been adulterated. Also, two occurrences that happen one after the other does not necessarily prove cause and effect.

Research says that overdosing on cannabis is extremely rare, almost impossible, and requires mega-doses which people simply do not take. It's much, much easier to go into an alcoholic coma … and die.

There has been much disinformation about cannabis. However, Dr Sanjay Gupta of CNN during the last 10 years has done a great service in America by properly educating the public to dispel cannabis misconceptions.

Unlike the USA, where cannabis research was banned until recently, Israel has done extensive studies and it's readily available. Recreational cannabis is now legal in many countries and USA states. There is no big movement to make it illegal again and a large majority want it legal nationwide. It's also not a "gateway drug" any more than alcohol is.

In summary, cannabis is less harmful than alcohol. Thais need to be correctly informed about this and not be misled by vested interests, especially the alcohol industry. For Thais who can read English well enough, the scientific research is already there online. A well-informed public is always best.

Re: "Pandemic nearly over: experts," (BP, June 7).

On the use of face masks, Dr Opas Karnka­winpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said the Public Health Ministry had never arrested anyone who failed to wear a face mask. It only recommended people wear masks as long as they could do so, he said.

Also, the government is still requiring people to be vaccinated when every vaccinated country in the world is proving the inefficacy of vaccines against the predominant Omicron variants.

More than 80% of infections, hospitalisations and deaths in Australia, for example, are occurring among fully vaccinated persons.

Thai public health policy regarding Covid-19 needs a major revamp to be in line with real-world conditions, and should stop providing profits for vested interests at the expense of human health and human rights.

Re: "Devil to pay," (PostBag, June 13).

In a recent letter, Michael Setter pointed to the accuracy of the UK in reporting a high percentage of Covid deaths in England among vaccinated people. It is a selective number, however, for the article also says that pure numbers give a skewed statistical impression.

The article says many old people are dying with Covid as a contributary cause, and as most have been vaccinated there is a high percentage of vaccinated deaths in this age group in the same way that there is a high death rate from all causes in this age group.

Later in the article is noted that 'between Jan 2 and Sept 24 2021, the age-adjusted risk of death involving coronavirus was 32 times greater in unvaccinated people than in fully vaccinated individuals', according to the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) dated last November.

I, for one, am more than happy to have had three vaccinations.