Thailand approves magic mushrooms and opium for medical and research use

The Ministry of Public Health Thailand has authorised the use of opium and magic mushrooms for medical and research purposes. 

Effective from 24 April 2024, and signed by former Minister of Public Health Cholnan Srikaew, opium and psilocybin mushrooms, more commonly known as magic mushrooms, are now categorised under Category 5 under the Narcotics Act of Thailand, separate from marijuana and hemp extracts. 

Previously, the Ministry of Public Health Thailand removed kratom, marijuana, and hemp from the Category 5 list, resulting in only opium, magic mushrooms, and marijuana and hemp extracts with a THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) level above 0.2% on the list. 

As per the directive, drugs on the Narcotics Category 5 list, except for marijuana and hemp extracts, are permitted for medical treatments as well as research purposes. This decision was enabled by the invocation of Article 24 and Article 58 of the Narcotics Code. 

[Hero image credit: Phoenix Han/Unsplash; featured image credit: Guido Blokker/Unsplash]