Thailand Pushes to Open More Free Cannabis Clinics

More than 500 new cannabis clinics across Thailand have been opened since Thailand launched its first clinic in August 2019. They are now available in all provinces in Thailand.

The cannabis clinics are in 60% of public hospitals in 878 districts and several towns or subdistrict healthcare centres.  Thailand’s Department of Traditional and Alternative Medicine oversees all the facilities.

Dr Kwanchai Wisitthanon, the department’s deputy director-general, told the Bangkok Post that the department has administered cannabis to more than 40,000 patients. “So far, the results have been impressive,” he said.

There are two types of medical cannabis available in these clinics: oil extracted from the seeds or traditional cannabis remedies, which use leaves, roots, or flowers of the plant.

The department’s records show that 74% of patients’ health improves after receiving such treatment.

“We plan to open cannabis clinics throughout the country to cover most of the regions,” Dr Kwanchai said.

These clinics offer cannabis oil treatment

We provide cannabis oil to patients for free. We have distributed more than 100,000 bottles of cannabis oil in the past two years – based on the formula of Daycha Oil (produced by traditional medicine herbalist Daycha Siripatra, who is also chairman of the Khaokwan Foundation in Suphan Buri).

Almost a decade ago, he used cannabis oil to help treat his Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases when they were in their early stages.

There are currently three formulas of cannabis oil on the market.

Daycha Oil is the first. There is a mild concentration of 5% per 1 cubic centimetre (cc), while the remaining 95% is coconut oil. Our 40,000 patients have mostly received Daycha Oil because it is FDA-certified.

Phu Phrao oil is the second choice. It contains 10% cannabis oil per 1 cc. The following is the recipe made by the abbot of Wat Phu Phrao (or Wat Sirindhorn Wararam) in Ubon Ratchathani. So far, about 500 people have received it. Approximately a thousand bottles have been distributed.

Rick Simpson oil is the third, with the final concentration, 50% of cannabis oil per cc is the strongest. This formula is based on Rick Simpson Oil.

Simpson Oil was introduced in 2003 by a Canadian engineer who used it to cure his skin cancer and provides instructions on how to extract it for free on his website].

This formula is called Metta Osot oil (meaning “mercy medical cannabis oil”).

What is the effectiveness of these cannabis oils?

Patients who suffer from insomnia, migraines, and loss of appetite can benefit from Daycha Oil. This oil reduces the number of painkillers our patients have to take.

Phu Phrao and Metta Osot oil formulas are still undergoing trials. If you are already using Daycha oil, and need something stronger, we provide the latter. Cancer patients tend to use it most often.

Phu Phrao oil has helped them sleep better and enjoy food more, according to their feedback. Several people claim that it reduced the size of their tumours, while others claim that their tumours disappeared entirely. Unfortunately, we do not have enough data to draw a conclusion.

Metta Osot oil is given to cancer patients in the late stages of the illness. By reducing the side effects of chemical treatments, it improves their quality of life. Considering the high concentration of cannabis in this oil, we only provide it at our clinic in Nonthaburi, so we can closely monitor its side effects and be certain it’s safe before we allow other cannabis clinics to use it.

What are the safest ways to use cannabis oil?

For the high-concentration Metta Osot oil, we tell our patients to begin small and increase their dosage slowly. It is recommended that the patient put a toothpick dipped in the oil under the tongue for a few minutes. Then the patient’s condition will be observed for about 30 minutes. If the patient feels their heart is beating too fast or their lips or throat are unusually dry, we recommend they drink something sour, such as lime juice. It may help reduce the symptoms.

After the patient is comfortable with one dip, we will move up to two dips before moving up to a whole droplet.

To make sure that isn’t too much, we recommend avoiding the first drop because that is the largest. It’s best to squeeze the first few drops back into the bottle, and then use one of the smaller drops in the dropper.

Do these cannabis clinics offer traditional remedies?

Cannabis is one of the herbal ingredients in 16 of our remedies. There are more than 1,000 traditional remedies (which date back over 300 years during the reign of King Narai the Great of Ayutthaya Kingdom). There are plans to introduce another 50 utilizing cannabis in the near future.

What types of illnesses are treated at a cannabis clinic?

A swollen stomach caused by liver cancer may be treated with the Sanan Tri Phop formula while the Suk Siyat formula promotes good sleep. By reducing swelling, patients can breathe more easily and eat. Some non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can be treated with Thap Phraya Thikhun. Paralysis causes muscle weakness, which can be treated with Thalai Phrasumeru. Muscle aches, psoriasis, and haemorrhoids are all treated with other formulas.

Are these remedies being tested in cannabis clinics?

Not for traditional medical remedies, which have proved their efficacy for over a century. However, we keep records of our patients and conduct research and development to raise the confidence of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in traditional remedies.

What are the risks?

Traditional doctors diagnose our patients’ conditions and learn about their histories in our clinics. Those who have a family history of mental illness should avoid cannabis oil if they have a history of it. Nevertheless, cannabis oil and traditional remedies are generally safe when taken as prescribed by a physician.

Please also reading:

Food Chain in Thailand Promotes Cannabis Crazy Happy Pizza

Thailand’s Government to Offer Cannabis Farming Loans

Thailand’s Lawmakers Push for Full Marijuana Legalisation