Medical marijuana got a spurt of growth yesterday with cabinet approval of a proposal to allow patients, health workers and licensed folk healers to grow marijuana.
Relaxing the government’s grip on cannabis production, the proposal from health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who has promoted wider access to cannabis production, would effectively allow millions to grow cannabis. The cabinet’s decision to green light the proposal was announced by government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul.
Under the draft amendment, patients holding valid medical certificates could grow their own cannabis. Health care workers and licensed practitioners of traditional Thai medicine could grow it for medical and commercial purposes. It would also expand the ability to import, export and possess cannabis products by commercial manufacturers.
Currently the law only allows state agencies and those working under them to produce, import or export cannabis. Patients, medical practitioners and traditional practitioners cannot grow or possess cannabis legally.
The bill will now go before the Office of the Council of State for legal review, Traisuree said.
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