KHON KAEN, July 31 (TNA) — Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul promised to protect Thais’ rights to medical marijuana business from foreign intervention.
While opening the National Health R 2 R Forum in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, Mr Anutin said the government was only receiving academic knowledge on medical marijuana from foreign parties and he did not plan to amend any law to allow a foreign party to cultivate marijuana or seek marijuana-related patents in the country.
Medical marijuana business would not repeat rice and banana cultivation that involved foreign investors, he said.
Mr Anutin also said that governmental organizations including Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital were growing marijuana and would produce 1 million bottles of 5cc marijuana oil next month. The permanent secretary for public health would plan their distribution, he said.
Besides, the health minister promised to give permanent positions to all health professionals in the government sector including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dentists. (TNA)