Thai Chronic Disease Patients Used Cannabis Tea Daily but Few Knew About Drug Interactions | Research

The takeaway

Among 124 Thai chronic disease patients using cannabis post-legalization, most used cannabis tea daily for diabetes or hypertension, but only 35% were aware of potential drug interactions.

primary care clinicians in legalized markets, pharmacists, global health researchers, Thai healthcare providers

What the researchers found

Patients primarily used cannabis tea daily to manage diabetes or hypertension, viewing it as a complement rather than alternative to conventional medicines. Many believed cannabis could improve their health, while fewer considered it a threat. However, only 34.7% were aware of potential drug interactions with concurrent medications.

Why it matters

Thailand's cannabis legalization created a unique situation where traditional herbal medicine practices merged with modern chronic disease management. The low awareness of drug interactions poses a real clinical safety concern.

The numbers in context

11 qualitative interviews, 124 survey participants. Most male, married, Buddhist. Daily cannabis tea was the primary form. Complementary use predominant. Only 34.7% aware of drug interactions. Patients viewed cannabis as quality-of-life enhancing.

How the study worked

Exploratory-sequential mixed methods. Phase 1: qualitative semi-structured interviews with 11 patients. Phase 2: cross-sectional survey of 124 patients with diabetes and/or hypertension in southern Thailand, post-legalization.

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample from one region of Thailand. Self-reported cannabis use and health beliefs. No clinical outcome data. Cross-sectional design. Cultural context may limit generalizability. No verification of what patients were actually consuming.

How to read the evidence

Small mixed-methods study from a single region with no clinical outcomes provides preliminary evidence on an important practical question.

When this study was published

Conducted during the post-legalization period in Thailand.

The bigger picture

Thailand's experience is globally relevant as more countries legalize cannabis. The integration of cannabis into traditional medicine practices and chronic disease self-management creates both opportunities and risks that other countries may face.

Questions still open

Does cannabis tea interact with common diabetes and hypertension medications?
Would pharmacist-led education improve drug interaction awareness?

Common questions

How are Thai patients using cannabis for chronic disease?

Most drink cannabis tea daily as a complement to their conventional medications for diabetes or hypertension, drawing on traditional Thai medicine practices.

Is it safe to use cannabis with diabetes or blood pressure medications?

Only 35% of patients in this study were aware of potential drug interactions. The study highlights a safety gap that healthcare providers need to address.

Read the original research

Cannabis use experience of patients with chronic disease after revisions to the cannabis legalization regulations: a mixed-methods study in primary care settings in the south of Thailand.

Primary health care research & development, 26, e89

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Sripaew, Supakorn; Sornsenee, Phoomjai; Vichitkunakorn, Polathep; Assanangkornchai, Sawitri; Fumaneeshoat, Orapan. (2025). Cannabis use experience of patients with chronic disease after revisions to the cannabis legalization regulations: a mixed-methods study in primary care settings in the south of Thailand.. Primary health care research & development, 26, e89. https://doi.org/10.1017/S146342362510056X