Group accuses govt of insincerity over cannabis patents

national January 18, 2019 01:00

By The Nation

 

// AFP PHOTO

 

THE CIVIL SECTOR for medical marijuana has raised doubts about the Intellectual Property Department’s (IPD) apparent reluctance to reject cannabis-related patent applications filed by two firms.

 

In its statement, the group identified these firms as GW Pharma and Otsuka. 

 

“All seven controversial patent applications related to cannabis are from these two firms,” the group said. 

 

“It should be noted that these two companies have received visits from Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee and Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.” 

 

The group includes BIOTHAI Foundation, Rangsit University, Thai Traditional Medical Council and FTA Watch. 

 

The group has also decided to refuse any future meetings with the IPD or the Commerce Ministry because of a perceived lack of sincerity. 

 

“They are not sincere. The IPD director-general was not at the meeting scheduled with us last Friday. Nor did a single deputy director-general show up,” the group said. 

 

According to the group, directors of the IPD Laws Office and Patents Division also presented only selective information at the meeting. They cited examples of cannabis-related patent approvals in some countries without mentioning cases of several other countries that have rejected cannabis-related patents, the group said. 

 

The applications filed by GW Pharma and Otsuka are reportedly related to the use of marijuana in treatments for epilepsy and cancer, among others. Upset with IPD’s actions, the Civil Sector for Medical Marijuana has now vowed to take the issue to court. 

 

“We will make sure the controversial patent applications are thrown out,” the group said.

 

Last month, the National Legislative Assembly passed a law that will legalise medical marijuana, as some non-governmental groups began doubting whether the legalisation was rushed for the benefit of some businesses. 

 

With some firms having already prepared patent applications related to marijuana, it is possible that they may enjoy monopolies of some kind. 

 

The patent issues therefore have become highly controversial. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362472

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-18

2 hours ago, webfact said:

With some firms having already prepared patent applications related to marijuana, it is possible that they may enjoy monopolies of some kind. 

then by all means penalize them for being smarter than anyone else and following the rules

So those brown envelopes obviously went to the right people then......

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

then by all means penalize them for being smarter than anyone else and following the rules

Corruption is not following the rules. Nor should one company have monopoly of treating a certain disease with their brand of cannabis if any brand or strand can do it that's just ridiculous.

 

So yes penalize all forms of corruption.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Group accuses govt of insincerity

People accusing Thailand's military junta of insincerity? Of course they are insincere; how else are military politicians supposed to behave?

This government has already established it's bona fides so far as insincerity is concerned with a multitude of broken election promises.

Junta mischief so far as selective approvals of medicinal cannabis comes as no surprise.

Edited January 18, 20197 yr by Cadbury

Wowee, from government control to industrial control. Damn them all, including Stark Industries, Wonka, Acme, and that mining company from Alien.