FDA clarifies criteria for requesting permission to advertise marijuana while providing medical information

[Jonathan Fairfield]

FDA clarifies criteria for requesting permission to advertise marijuana while providing medical information

By Supawadee Wangsri

 

 

BANGKOK, 26 June 2019(NNT) - Last week, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Public Health’s (MOPH) draft regulations on seeking permits and marijuana advertising licenses. Some people expressed the view that this could benefit foreigners who import marijuana for commercial purposes. However, a recent statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirms that it is not intended to be for the benefit of foreigners.

 

FDA Secretary General Dr. Thares Krassanairawiwong explained today that there are currently no foreign marijuana products registered in Thailand. Therefore, the regulation is clearly not intended to benefit foreign pharmaceutical companies. The draft ministerial regulation is aimed at supporting academic information on marijuana drugs produced in this country for use by medical professionals in determining the appropriate dosage for the welfare of patients because the agency that is licensed to grow and produce cannabis extracts for medical use, will soon be able to benefit from their products.

 

The ministerial rule clearly states that any advertisements which provide any kind of information about marijuana must be approved by the FDA Secretary General. Only two types of advertisement are allowed: the first case is advertising in the form of academic information for medical professionals including doctors, dentists, veterinarians, and pharmacists, Thai traditional medicine practitioners, registered traditional Thai medicine practitioners and folk healers; the second instance is preparing documents in the form of labels or medical information leaflets, on a cannabis container. In both cases, the advertised information is not intended for the public or society in general.

 

The FDA Secretary-General has asked those who would use marijuana to treat diseases to be examined by a doctor who has completed training in marijuana drug use by the MOPH. and not believe advertisements in any media because the patients may be harmed by the inappropriate use of marijuana.

 

Source: http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG190626092031171

 

-- © Copyright nnt 2019-06-26

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