BANGKOK, July 12 (TNA) – The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) handed over 600 kg of cannabis, seized from drug traffickers to Abhaibhubejhr Hospital to produce cannabinoid drugs.
ONCB secretary-general Niyom Termsrisuk presided over the handover of cannabis to Chantima Suwan, a traditional medicine practitioner from the hospital.
Chantima said the first lot of 30 kg cannabis, given to the hospital earlier was found to be safe from hazardous substances and it contained high concentration of CBD and THC, active compounds for medicine production.
The new lot of marijuana will be tested for contamination and the result will be known within 15 days. Then, it will take about one and a half month to produce marijuana-based medicine for the last-stage cancer patients. The 600 kg cannabis could be made into upto a hundred thousand bottles of cannabis oil.
Meanwhile, Niyom said the ONCB had about 22 tonnes of seized marijuana in its possession but the tests must be conducted to see if it was the medical –grade cannabis.
The agency is ready to distribute the drug for medical purposes and researches. So far, ten institutions sought permission to use the drug.
Besides Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, two institutions were approved including Sakon Nakhon-based Arjaro Hospital and Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University. (TNA)
