Cannabis can boost economy and health but caution needed, experts tell conference

By PIYAPORN WONGRUANG 
The Nation 

 

 

YOUNG POLITICIANS of popular parties, including Future Forward, are viewing marijuana as a plant that promises a new economic boost and is deserving of state support, along with a strong dose of caution.

 

Prinn Panitchpakdi, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, said marijuana offers economic promise alongside more traditional plants such as rice. However, he said it also has other dimensions that could affect people’s health and lives and hence should be approached with caution.

 

There is a need for society to build a body of knowledge to ensure the good qualities of the plant are tapped and there is adequate intellectual property protection. The use of the law should come second, he said, as too stringent a legal approach could create loopholes that promote corruption. Prinn was speaking on a political panel at the Greenovation Cannabis Conference organised yesterday as a platform to share views on the various aspects of marijuana.

 

Thaopipob Limjitakorn, a Future Forward MP, said the issue had been discussed in his party, which led to a decision to stick to the prime principle that power belongs to the people and that includes reflecting their choices regarding the herb. Future Forward, he said, was concerned about the creation of monopolies, and would not support any laws that favoured certain groups of people to produce marijuana-based medicines.

 

He personally wished to run a model or “sandbox” to see how the plant could be best managed.

 

Prinn advised caution in its use for recreation, because it would come with public health costs. 

 

Notable academic institutions, meanwhile, said they were ready to conduct research in relation to the breeding of marijuana plants as well as the production of the plant for pharmaceuticals.

 

Assoc Professor Sitthiwat Lertsiri from Mahidol University’s Faculty of Science said knowledge about the plant as well as its medically related production and use has been set back for long as a result of suppression under the narcotics law that categorised it as a banned narcotic. Even very basic knowledge related to the plant’s breeds and taxonomy needed to be studied and identified, as well as creating a large data bank, he said.

 

The faculty, he said, is particularly interested in developing the standard chemical used to extract the medically significant chemicals within the plant, such as CBD and THC. The extraction chemical currently must be imported from overseas. The faculty is now preparing to work on solving the chemical extraction question, which is fundamental to all medical production, he said.

 

Professor Nanthakorn Boonkerd, from Suranaree University of Technology (SUT)’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology, noted that so far no academic institutions had been granted permission to conduct research related to breeding or producing marijuana – with the exception of Rangsit University. 

 

The new amendment to the narcotics law stipulates that during the first five years, medical practitioners or farmers who wish to produce marijuana-based medicines must be linked to academic institutions or concerned government agencies. The most advanced work is now with the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, which is about to harvest its first batch of home-grown marijuana for medical production.

 

SUT, he said, has proposed its research and has been waiting for permission to proceed, expected within the next month. Once approved, it would start to grow the organic plant under a proposed quota of two tonnes a year to serve medical production by the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department.

 

Kasetsart University aims to proceed with developing breeding technology as production of quality medicine begins with ensuring best breeds of the plant are used, said Professor Thani Sriwongchai, vice rector for research and innovation. “Marijuana is native to our land, so we should make sure it is we who get the utmost benefit.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30370500

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-06-04

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"However, he said it also has other dimensions that could affect people’s health and lives and hence should be approached with caution."

 

What, me worry?  

2 hours ago, webfact said:

There is a need for society to build a body of knowledge

Just about marijuana or other stuff too?

 

I’d say people who call themselves democrats but who negotiate with military juntas are more dangerous than any drug. 

Could boost Tourism, right now Phuket needs it

Experts ?? When did these MPs become experts on ganja !!

 

” Even very basic knowledge related to the plant’s breeds and taxonomy needed to be studied and identified"

 

Could always ask other countries that have been doing studies for decades and have the data ????????

Edited June 4, 20197 yr by cornishcarlos

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The new amendment to the narcotics law stipulates that during the first five years, medical practitioners or farmers who wish to produce marijuana-based medicines must be linked to academic institutions or concerned government agencies.

This morning my wife (*Dee) and her 'gang' are headed to Naresuan University in Phitsanulok to attend a seminar about growing marijuana in Thailand. Their goal is to make money and they view pot as just another crop. I wish them well, but as with any farming endeavor profits are not guaranteed. The 'gang' knows they can grow about anything, but are more concerned about the government obstacles.

 

In the past most of the local villagers have produced rice usually averaging three crops per year. But for the last few years, I have noticed more and more rice fields laying fallow. My wife is one of these farmers who say the profit is minimal and not worth the aggravation anymore. Instead she has turned her attention to growing cantaloupes. Dee had one of the first greenhouses in the village and has already paid off her initial investment. 

 

Occasionally we like to visit Colorado and explore the Rocky Mountains. On our last trip I explained to my wife that marijuana was now legal and could be purchased at locally owned shops. She was skeptical about the matter so I stopped and purchased some weed to illustrate my point. Dee stated this is what Thailand needs to do.

 

She wants to call her shop Dee Pot. This is one time, I hope her dreams do go up in smoke. But, I'm not holding my breath...

 

*Dee means good in Thai.

Edited June 4, 20197 yr by missoura

In the end as always ... money ... money ... money!
Remember! Cannabis is a product given to us by nature, some people with their priceless hunger for money steal it to resell it at astronomical prices!

14 minutes ago, missoura said:

This morning my wife (*Dee) and her 'gang' are headed to Naresuan University in Phitsanulok to attend a seminar about growing marijuana in Thailand. Their goal is to make money and they view pot as just another crop. I wish them well, but as with any farming endeavor profits are not guaranteed. The 'gang' knows they can grow about anything, but are more concerned about the government obstacles.

 

In the past most of the local villagers have produced rice usually averaging three crops per year. But for the last few years, I have noticed more and more rice fields laying fallow. My wife is one of these farmers who say the profit is minimal and not worth the aggravation anymore. Instead she has turned her attention to growing cantaloupes. Dee had one of the first greenhouses in the village and has already paid off her initial investment. 

 

Occasionally we like to visit Colorado and explore the Rocky Mountains. On our last trip I explained to my wife that marijuana was now legal and could be purchased at locally owned shops. She was skeptical about the matter so I stopped and purchased some weed to illustrate my point. Dee stated this is what Thailand needs to do.

 

She wants to call her shop Dee Pot. This is one time, I hope her dreams do go up in smoke. But, I'm not holding my breath...

 

*Dee means good in Thai.

I think she may be kidding you a bit. Ganja always has and always will be grown by locals. Often for a pittance. It is just the government wanting to promote medicinal use as a way of screwing more money out of the system.  Local ganja use is smoked traditionally and always has been and the local in my village, an old fellow, say he can not understand why the government just let it be grown openly. Mind you it does appear to help him as he has a physical impairment that appears after a few puffs appear to relax him. But not sure though how he got this disability, could have been when he was high as kite, but at 87 long may he have some nice  days.

36 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

Experts ?? When did these MPs become experts on ganja !!

 

” Even very basic knowledge related to the plant’s breeds and taxonomy needed to be studied and identified"

 

Could always ask other countries that have been doing studies for decades and have the data ????????

Holland or Denmark to name two countries where there is a wealth of information on this subject.......

 

How long before the first uneducated idiot posts how evil/dangerous/addictive marijuana is?

Probably while smoking a cigarette and taking another throatfull of beer. 

Weed is a wonder plant and to be honest, if everyone smoked it, we'd have a much nicer society!!!

Edited June 4, 20197 yr by geronimo

thailand, the new colombia, they already have the murder rates

 

cannabis was legal for hundreds of years, until is was a competition for big pharma that likes to sell you petroleum pills with nasty side effects and the wood industry, because hemp is good as wood replacement, you can make clothes and DUPONT chemicals  that invented NYLON and wanted their products to be marketed instead of natural one's ...

 

same with ZOLOFT and other antidepressants... they banned natural tryptophan first because of one bad Japanese batch where rumours where it was again a false flag or setup

 

Tryptophan supplements were recalled in 1989, and then banned completely in 1990 by the FDA. It is unclear whether the disease was primarily the result of inadequate purification of the tryptophan, or the use of genetically modified bacteria.

 

The introduction of sertraline in 1992 and paroxetine in 1993 led aggregate SSRIuse to increase to 46% of depression patients by 1993. Subsequent release of venlafaxine in 1994, fluvoxamine in 1995, and citalopram in 1998 increased SSRIuse still further to 53% in 1994, 64% in 1997, and 69% in 2001 

 

As far as I am concerned this is the chance for Thailand to differentiate itself from the rest of Asia which it will need to do as more and more tourists opt for Vietnam and Myanmar. Open the recreational marijuana taps wide open. Don't limit the market to CBD medical marijuana. Just my opinion. I think as soon as they figure out how to allow the "right" people to make the money from sales the regulations will open up.

The difference between recreational weed and medicinal weed hopefully will be explained to them, I reckon selling it through a shopfront will not be allowed, as it would not be controlled for the medicinal crop.

 

 

Imho, this whole legalization of medical marijuana has nothing to do with relieving the suffering of people domestically and everything to do with allowing monied interests the licenses to grow the plant and manufacture cannabis-based products for Export and Overseas consumption.  The government will endorse Thai medical 'expert' after 'expert' who will proclaim the dangers of marijuana and who will author recommendations to the legislative bodies to very strictly regulate domestic use to the point that the products like cannabis oil and cannabinoid derivitives will be essentially out of the reach of most people living in Thailand.

"The Thai medical community needs to do further research!", will be the clarion cry.
Buffalo pucky!  No they don't, they need to read the research already conducted world-wide by a huge number of global medical researchers, both for profit and non-profit, and stop ignoring studies that show the benefits of cannabinoids on many, many aliments. 
But that's not the point.  The point if to keep it out of the hands of those living in Thailand while profiting to the max by providing the Supply for global Demand. 
It's all about the money.  It has nothing to do with relieving suffering.

Edited June 4, 20197 yr by connda

3 hours ago, justin case said:

thailand, the new colombia, they already have the murder rates

 

cannabis was legal for hundreds of years, until is was a competition for big pharma that likes to sell you petroleum pills with nasty side effects and the wood industry, because hemp is good as wood replacement, you can make clothes and DUPONT chemicals  that invented NYLON and wanted their products to be marketed instead of natural one's ...

 

same with ZOLOFT and other antidepressants... they banned natural tryptophan first because of one bad Japanese batch where rumours where it was again a false flag or setup

 

Tryptophan supplements were recalled in 1989, and then banned completely in 1990 by the FDA. It is unclear whether the disease was primarily the result of inadequate purification of the tryptophan, or the use of genetically modified bacteria.

 

The introduction of sertraline in 1992 and paroxetine in 1993 led aggregate SSRIuse to increase to 46% of depression patients by 1993. Subsequent release of venlafaxine in 1994, fluvoxamine in 1995, and citalopram in 1998 increased SSRIuse still further to 53% in 1994, 64% in 1997, and 69% in 2001 

 

Agreed.  The world-wide bans on cannabis are relatively recent events.  The majority of the bans having happened starting at the beginning of the 20th Century.  

A free-flowing discussion about this new medical business opportunity that took place Feb 19, 2019 at the Foreign Correspondents Club, Bangkok.

 

 

I'm from Massachusetts USA cannabis legalization is a win,  win.  What has to be fought is educating people into new ways of thinking about it that's the battle. And I know the same in Thailand it'll be a long road. Look at the downside of alcohol in Thailand not good right.