PRACHIN BURI, July 5 (TNA) – Bhumjaithai party leader
Anutin Charnvirakul, tipped to be minister of public health in the new
government, has visited a popular hospital specialized in traditional medicine
in order to push for further legalization of medical marijuana.
Mr. Anutin led the Bhumjaithai Party in the successful
election in March with his campaign pledge on legalization of cannabis
use. His party won 51 seats to join the
next coalition government.
As the Cabinet-line up expected to be formally announced
this month, Anutin met with Thai traditional medicine practitioners at
Chaophraya Abhaiphubejhr Hospital in Prachin Buri province on Friday.
The renowned hospital has been endorsed by the Public Health
Ministry to distribute medical cannabis to patients and recently opened a
medical cannabis clinic. The hospital
along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are authorized to produce
medical cannabis as model for other medical institutes after the Narcotics
Drugs law was amended last year.
Anutin said he wanted to gain more knowledge on medical
marijuana as alternative medicine in order to keep his party’s campaign
promise. He believed more than half of
the votes for his party came from medical marijuana advocates.
Medical marijuana liberalization would benefit Thai people
both in terms of economy and health but recreational use of marijuana must be
controlled, he said.
The hospital has produced and distributed cannabinoid to
patients with epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease under a guideline of the
FDA.(TNA)
