Committee Pushes Government for Medical Marijuana in Thailand

BANGKOK – Chairman of the committee M.D.Sophon Mekthon, said on the weekend, that the National Legislative Assembly is considering a draft of a law to permit the cultivation, extraction, and production of plants containing narcotic substances for medical research.

Marijuana is the 5th category of narcotics used in medical research in many countries. A committee considering medical marijuana has advised the government that Thailand will be disadvantaged without a law to permit the use of medical marijuana.

The Ministry of Public Health has set up four working groups to study the matter. Members of the committees include the director-general of the Department of Medical Services as well as representatives of the Food and Drug Administration and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Many countries such as Canada, the U.S., Australia, and countries in Western Europe have already allowed the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

By Suwit Rattiwan