BANGKOK, Nov 21 (TNA)- A seminar on medical cannabis is
held in Bangkok to exchange views with scholars from Australia, Canada and the
Netherlands about the medical benefits of cannabis as Thailand is moving to
legalize medical marijuana.
The Justice Ministry hosted the seminar of doctor,
pharmacist, farmers, legal experts and practitioner while Thailand National
Legislative Assembly (NLA) is to deliberate a bill legalizing medical use of
marijuana.
Thai Justice Minister Prajin Juntong said related agencies
needed to make preparations for the amended drug control law regarding
marijuana.
The seminar titled “Medical Use of Canabis: Experiences of
Australia, Canada and the Netherlands” served for necessary moves from
cultivation, research, transport and medical use of marijuana, said the
minister.
But while many entities have pushed hard for the
legalization of medical marijuana, the NLA last wee suspended its deliberation
on the draft law because some foreign companies’ have filed cannabis-related
patents with Thai Intellectual Property Department.
Lawmakers and activists said those applications can block
Thai researchers to conduct research on marijuana-based medicines, leading to
monopoly.
To find a breakthrough, Prajin said he planned to appoint to
panels to look into medical use of marijuana and all legal issues.
Some activists have called from legal actions against the
Intellectual Property Department for accepting patent applications deemed
illegal because a patent can only be granted to new inventions.
They say traditional Thai medicine has long recognized
marijuana’s medicinal properties.
The NLA, meanwhile, announced that it will resume
deliberating the bill on Friday after summoning Intellectual Property
Department officials to testify this week.(TNA)
