Thailand Approves Opium, Magic Mushrooms For Medical And Research Purposes

In a landmark shift in drug policy, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has officially sanctioned the medical and research use of opium and psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, El Planteo reported. Announced in the Royal Gazette and signed by Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, the decree is already in effect.

Opium and magic mushrooms have now been reclassified as category 5 narcotics, a distinction previously reserved for cannabis and hemp extracts before their experimental authorization in 2018. This reclassification aligns with the removal of kratom, cannabis and hemp from the category 5 list by the Ministry, which now only includes opium, magic mushrooms and cannabis as well as hemp extracts containing more than 0.2% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

The new regulation specifies that category 5 drugs, excluding cannabis and hemp extracts are approved for medical and research purposes under Articles 24 and 58 of the Narcotics Code. This progressive move is intended to facilitate scientific research into the potential health benefits of these substances and their use in specific medical treatments.

This policy update is part of a broader acceptance of certain controlled narcotics for medical and scientific purposes. It also follows the introduction of a new addiction treatment program by the Department of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (DTAM) in March, which utilizes CBD-rich cannabis oil.