Seminar on medical use of cannabis held in Bangkok

BANGKOK, June 20 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Public Health has organized a seminar in Bangkok on the rational use of cannabis for the medical purpose. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Praphon Tansrikiartikul on Thursday chaired the seminar at the Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok, in which public health executives from across the country participated, including provincial public health chiefs and directors of hospitals nationwide. Dr. Praphon said that the seminar is aimed to create proper understanding on the rational use of extracted elements from cannabis, including cannabidiol (CBD) oil, for the medical purpose at the maximum benefit for the safe and most effective treatment of patients. Besides, the proper and safe handling of extracted elements from cannabis at health facilities, namely hospitals and clinics, was also shared at Thursday's seminar. Dr. Praphon emphasized that the use of cannabis and its extracted elements must be under the supervision of medical doctors, dentists or pharmacists who pass a training program organized by his ministry's Department of Medical Services. The senior official reasoned that cannabis is a type of narcotics under Thailand's Drug Bill 2019, which has been promulgated since early this year. "Based on the Thai law, cannabis and its extracted elements are legally used only for the medical purpose and the medical evidence is legally required to support each of the use", the senior official explained. According to the senior official, a close monitoring is also required to control and ensure the effectiveness of each of the use of cannabis and its extracted elements and the safety of patients. (TNA)