Sentiment Analysis of Twitter data based on Cannabis Legalization
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Abstract
This study delves into Thai public sentiment towards cannabis legalization by analyzing Twitter data from 2019 to 2024. Despite recent legalization for medical and industrial purposes, our findings reveal a persistent negative public perception. Thais express significant concerns about potential societal harms, such as increased drug use and negative impacts on youth. While proponents highlight medical benefits and personal freedoms, the broader online conversation remains dominated by negative associations linked to cannabis, including crime and societal decay. Employing advanced natural language processing techniques, we identified three distinct sentiment clusters: strongly opposed, mixed, and supportive. Our results clearly show that while discussions about cannabis have grown, negative sentiment continues to prevail, especially when linked to political issues and perceived threats to social order. These findings underscore the complex interplay between public opinion, policy changes, and cultural attitudes toward cannabis in Thailand.
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References
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