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Thailand’s Lawmakers to Tighten Loopholes Over Cannabis Use

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Thailand's Lawmakers to Tighten Loopholes Over Cannabis Use

A new cannabis and hemp control measure presented to lawmakers in Thailand by the Public Health Ministry is set to become law next year in order to limit the plant’s usage. The major goal of the bill, according to Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew, is to tighten loopholes that enable individuals to use cannabis for the improper objectives; it will not reschedule cannabis as a narcotic.

The bill maintains the status of cannabis as a controlled substance and classifies any cannabis extract with a concentration of 0.2% or above as a narcotic.

According to Dr. Cholnan, the measure will also govern the usage of non-narcotic plant components that include psychedelic compounds.

Those who cultivate cannabis, even for personal consumption, are required to obtain a license, he added, since the ministry continues to endorse medical usage but not recreational use.

During their tenure in office, the Bhumjaithai Party introduced a measure to regulate hemp and cannabis that would have permitted domestic cultivation of up to fifteen plants.

All they had to do was notify the appropriate authorities, but now they were also required to get authorization under the new law.

If a cannabis store currently has a license, Dr. Cholnan says they can keep operating as long as they follow the rules. This includes not selling dried buds and not allowing customers to smoke on the premises.

There will be no ambiguity about which establishments can and cannot sell cannabis under the new law.

Cannabis dispensaries allowed to operate

We won’t ban all dispensaries, but businesses selling cannabis must follow the law. Because of the new rules, they can’t sell smoked cannabis buds or even provide consumers with the necessary equipment to smoke their own.

“In the past, we did not control usage, but with the new law, using cannabis for recreational purposes will be prohibited,” according to him.

An initial draft of the law has been completed by the Department of Thai Traditional And Alternative Medicine. It will be amended by the legal team of the Public Health Ministry before being presented at a public hearing this month.

According to Dr. Cholnan, the bill will provide transparent guidelines for the medical use of cannabis and the appropriate settings in which to do so.

To top it all off, he stressed that scientific methods are necessary for growing medical-grade cannabis, therefore the plant will no longer be available for informal cultivation.

He also mentioned that the draft makes it clear that individuals seeking to cultivate cannabis must first obtain a permit from the relevant government. Subsequently, additional restrictions will be announced through ministerial regulation.

“Although cannabis has medicinal uses, many have abused the narcotic compounds found in its other portions. That is why strict regulations limiting cannabis to medicinal uses are necessary. He clarified that the government’s stance on cannabis is one of support for medical use rather than recreational use.

Bill to become law in 2024

According to Supachai Jaisamut, an advisor to Deputy Prime Minister and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, the previous government’s version of the bill permitted individuals to register to grow the plant, but this one requires authorization. The initiative has the support of the Ministry of Public Health.

But he did say that the ministry’s proposed measure is identical to Bhumjaithai’s in some respects. As he explained it, other members of parliament or political parties might potentially present their own versions to the house.

Mr. Supachai clarified that the House vetting committee may alter and merge other drafts with the main measure, but that the Public Health Ministry’s proposal will be the primary one considered by parliament.

He predicted that by the middle of next year, the bill will have cleared parliament and become law.

”At present, Thailand earns almost 100 billion baht annually from the export of cannabis extracts utilized in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and personal care products.

Unfortunately for domestic growers, the country also sees an influx of illicit cannabis and cannabis-based products. Trade possibilities will pass Thailand by unless the country enacts the necessary laws and regulations.

Liberalization of cannabis in Thailand

The decriminalization of cannabis has also been considered in Japan as of late. Since Japan has imported cannabis extracts from Thailand, Japanese politicians invited me to discuss the problem, Mr. Supachai added.

He went on to say that retail establishments were required to apply to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine for authorization to sell cannabis and cannabis-based products per rules set up by the ministry under the prior administration.

“However, it remains an issue of law enforcement to deal with the few stores that operate illegally,” Mr. Supachai stated.

Bhumjaithai made the liberalization of cannabis a central campaign promise in the run-up to the 2019 election.

Announcing the delisting of the plant from Category 5 of the narcotics law in the Royal Gazette on June 9, last year, the only exception being extracts containing more than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component.

It decriminalized the cultivation and use of cannabis as a recreational and medical herb in homes.

The goal was to legalize its usage in food, clothing, and cosmetics while simultaneously promoting its medicinal advantages and bolstering a cannabis economy.

Investments in cannabis outlets

At this time, there are rules that prohibit selling to anybody under the age of 18 or to women who are pregnant, as well as smoking in public places. Those that cultivate cannabis for commercial purposes, as well as dispensaries, are required to hold licenses.

Business owners, many from outside the country, flooded the market with investments in cannabis outlets after decriminalization, and consumers shopped for weed without much in the way of medical or consumer advice.

There is uncertainty about the progress of cannabis liberalization as parliament has not passed the law. Parliament rejected Bhumjaithai’s cannabis and hemp control measure during its second reading earlier this year.

A zoning ordinance and significantly harsher legal penalties are among the many protections offered by this policy. Due to their belief that the proposed controls and regulations for cannabis were too lenient, the Pheu Thai and Democratic parties were in opposition to the law at the time.

Rangsit University’s College of Oriental Medicine dean Parnthep Pourpongpan expressed worry that the bill would restrict the plant’s use by the general public and medical professionals.

He speculated that a lack of education regarding the medicinal properties of cannabis is a contributing factor to the fact that so few doctors in the modern medical system are recommending it.

Cannabis is not a narcotic

It is with great relief that we report cannabis’s removal from the narcotics list. But we are worried that restrictions on medicinal use will make it very difficult for people to get alternative medicine, he added.

Many patients have benefited from traditional medicine treatments that include cannabis, according to medicinal cannabis advocate Daycha Siripatra. She maintains that cannabis is not a narcotic.

He claimed that 47 million individuals have signed up to cultivate cannabis and are prepared to fight any efforts to categorize it as a drug.

Convenience stores sell cigarette and alcohol products despite their negative health effects, while cannabis is stigmatized despite its potential health advantages.

The need of educating people about the correct way to utilize the plant for optimum health advantages was emphasized, but he also mentioned that laws and regulations can be enforced to address concerns about its overuse.

The head of Thailand’s Cannabis Future Network, Prasitchai Nunual, further cautioned that the public sector would oppose any efforts by politicians to reclassify cannabis as a drug.

Mr. Prasitchai recently met with Dr. Cholnan and expressed optimism on behalf of the network over the possibility of cannabis not being reclassified as a narcotic. “We will observe the situation,” he stated simply.

On the other hand, he is worried that the Public Health Ministry’s proposed legislation would make it too difficult for individuals to cultivate cannabis for personal use, such as mandating that it be grown in a controlled environment or in collaboration with educational institutions.

A legislation that could hinder the growth of the traditional Thai medicine sector is something he is wary of, he added.

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Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

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Pfizer

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

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New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

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Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke
If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

Starbucks Faces Sales Decline Amid Price Fatigue and Rising Competition

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Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

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Breast Cancer

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP

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