BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) — The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine signed an agreement with three other organizations to grow marijuana in four regions to produce traditional medicine for patients.
Dr Marut Jirasetasiri, director-general of the department, signed the agreement with representatives of Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Kasetsart University’s Chalermphrakiat campus and the National Farmers Council.
Under the agreement, the parties will conduct research and development for the cultivation of marijuana for the production of traditional medicine that will then be given free of charge for the government sector to use for the treatment of patients. Initial demand for fresh marijuana for the purpose amounts to about 11 tons.
Dr Marut said the production of traditional medicine would depend partly on quality marijuana supplied by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.
Prapat Panyachartrak, chairman of the National Farmers Council, said the marijuana cultivation would be organic and the council would grow about 400 marijuana plants for the project.
The two colleges already had their greenhouses and would start the cultivation within this month. Yields were expected in four months. (TNA)
