Can Bhutan legalise cannabis, considering its health benefits and potential economic advantages? Will the current legal frameworks in place allow the legalisation? This was the question asked to the panellists yesterday during the fourth GNH and Law Conference in Paro. While the participants suggested that Bhutan should consider decriminalising cannabis, others expressed reservations.
American legal expert, Jay Wexler, one of the speakers said it is worth considering legalising cannabis because of its medical and recreational benefits.
He highlighted how the United States and Canada legalised cannabis due to its medicinal value. He also emphasised that more than 20 European countries and several Asian countries including Thailand and South Korea, now allow the use of cannabis medical prescriptions.
The World Health Organization reported that several studies show cannabis to be effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in cancer and AIDS patients. Additionally, other studies also suggested that cannabis may help alleviate anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other mental health conditions.
Jay Wexler said, “The benefits of cannabis use, I would say, are fourfold. One is there are benefits to physical health. There’s a lot of evidence that cannabis can address certain physical conditions like chronic pain. Second is that there are mental health benefits, that cannabis can aid with depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder. Third, there’s some evidence that the use of cannabis decreases the use of other more dangerous substances like alcohol. Alcohol is much more dangerous than cannabis, and when people use cannabis, sometimes they use less alcohol.”
Similarly, Sonam Tshering an associate professor at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law said it would boost the country’s economy if cannabis is legalised.
“Due to the major medical benefits cannabis possesses, many countries have decriminalised cannabis. I think It is an opportunity for our government to look into it. We are not saying that the government must legalise it but to look into the opportunity and enact laws that do not punish the users too heavily,” said Sonam Tshering.
However, some participants questioned if legalising the drug would be viable. They said the cannabis-decriminalising topic should be approached with utmost caution and based on evidence. They added that religious aspects should also be looked into considering Bhutan being a Buddhist nation.
Meanwhile, The Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and Substance Abuse Act of Bhutan 2015 classifies cannabis as a narcotic drug with no medicinal value, punishable under the Penal Code of Bhutan.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Kipchu
