Thailand to start “medical marijuana tours” next year
Thailand will launch Southeast Asia’s first medical marijuana tour next year as the tourism and sports and public health ministries have finalised a draft programme for visiting plantations across Thailand.
The goal of the tour is to increase awareness of marijuana for medical purposes and inform those who are interested in growing the plant, said tourism and sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
“In the early stages, the programme aims to educate locals who would like to form a community enterprise and bid to become authorised cannabis growers. This programme will pave the way for a basic understanding of marijuana and its economic benefits,” Phiphat said.
The Tourism Department is now working with the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department towards promoting medical tourism, including herbs and marijuana for traditional medicine.
The Thai cabinet on August 4 approved a proposal to amend the Narcotics Act to allow private medical practitioners, including some traditional healers, and farmers to grow the plant for medical treatment.
“Controlled legalisation” of marijuana
This development followed the controlled legalisation of marijuana in 2018, which saw Thailand become the first country in Southeast Asia to allow state agencies or those who sought permission to grow cannabis, following the regulations of government agencies.
However, marijuana use for recreational purposes is still forbidden in Thailand as the government limits it for medicinal practices.
“We should consider marijuana as a legacy from the past worth preserving. Thais have used this plant as medicine since the 17th century,” Phiphat said, adding that “its medicinal properties were later verified by modern research.”
The Thai government is set to host a cannabis expo in Buri Ram next October, after the first edition was held in 2019.
Thailand will launch Southeast Asia’s first medical marijuana tour next year as the tourism and sports and public health ministries have finalised a draft programme for visiting plantations across Thailand. The goal of the tour is to increase awareness of marijuana for medical purposes and inform those who are interested in growing the plant, said tourism and sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. “In the early stages, the programme aims to educate locals who would like to form a community enterprise and bid to become authorised cannabis growers. This programme will pave the way for a basic understanding of marijuana and its...
Thailand will launch Southeast Asia’s first medical marijuana tour next year as the tourism and sports and public health ministries have finalised a draft programme for visiting plantations across Thailand.
The goal of the tour is to increase awareness of marijuana for medical purposes and inform those who are interested in growing the plant, said tourism and sports minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
“In the early stages, the programme aims to educate locals who would like to form a community enterprise and bid to become authorised cannabis growers. This programme will pave the way for a basic understanding of marijuana and its economic benefits,” Phiphat said.
The Tourism Department is now working with the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department towards promoting medical tourism, including herbs and marijuana for traditional medicine.
The Thai cabinet on August 4 approved a proposal to amend the Narcotics Act to allow private medical practitioners, including some traditional healers, and farmers to grow the plant for medical treatment.
“Controlled legalisation” of marijuana
This development followed the controlled legalisation of marijuana in 2018, which saw Thailand become the first country in Southeast Asia to allow state agencies or those who sought permission to grow cannabis, following the regulations of government agencies.
However, marijuana use for recreational purposes is still forbidden in Thailand as the government limits it for medicinal practices.
“We should consider marijuana as a legacy from the past worth preserving. Thais have used this plant as medicine since the 17th century,” Phiphat said, adding that “its medicinal properties were later verified by modern research.”
The Thai government is set to host a cannabis expo in Buri Ram next October, after the first edition was held in 2019.
