A cannabis plant mascot entertains patients at the opening of a medical marijuana clinic in Bangkok |
A medical clinic in Bangkok opened Monday offering free cannabis oil to hundreds of Thais seeking relief from cancer, insomnia and muscle pain as the government drives home the economic and health benefits of their gamble of marijuana.
Thailand in
2018 became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise medical marijuana,
although many Thais have long used the herb in traditional medicine.
The
government is eager to harvest the multi-billion-dollar potential of weed,
investing in tech to extract, distill and market cannabis oils.
"Today
marks the beginning," Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at the
launch of the Bangkok clinic.
"We
are fighting for the better health of Thai people and fighting for a better
economy," he told AFP, standing next to a marijuana leaf mascot wearing a
doctor's coat.
Patients
wait to register for treatment at the opening of a medical marijuana
clinic in
Bangkok
|
Hundreds of
mostly elderly Thais waited to receive the 5-10 mg vials of oil for muscle
aches, though some came bearing more serious ailments -- like Natjuta, born
with cerebral palsy and confined to a wheel chair.
Her mother
Supatra Ulapatorn said cannabis oil helps her daughter to sleep better and stay
calmer.
"She
does not sleep well which causes me not to sleep either," said the
60-year-old. "She is more calm now, so I think it works."
Anutin, a
construction tycoon-turned-minister whose Bhumjaithai party rode a
pro-marijuana platform in last year's elections to become a major player in
parliament, has promised an economic bonanza to his rural constituents.
He added
that the drug has been "de-stigmatised" in Thailand.
Thailand
hopes that legalising marijuana products for medical purposes will provide
a
boost to the economy
|
"If we
talk about cannabis extraction, I have a sense people view it as medication
rather than it being a narcotic," he said.
Still, a
knot of rules govern who can grow marijuana plants and extract cannabis oil,
and critics say legislation will limit opportunities for small farmers and
likely benefit big agro-industrial firms.
Medical
research has shown that cannabis oil can help ease the pain of patients
suffering from conditions such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy, but the
science is out on its impact on other serious diseases including different
forms of cancers.
Recreational
use and trade of marijuana is still illegal and could land anyone caught with a
joint with severe penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
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