Thailand is warming to cannabis with the announcement that some hospitals can now legally produce traditional medicine containing cannabis as long as a traditional Thai medicine expert is on duty to prepare them.

The traditional medicines are treatments for common illnesses in some provinces, says the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine in Bangkok Post. The medicines can only be from among the 16 recipes permitted by the Thai government that include cannabis as the base ingredients, said Marut Jirasetthasiri, director-general of the department.

The change hopes to answer the fact that more people have started to seek treatment using traditional medicine, Marut pointed out.

Across Thailand, 291 units have been established at state-run medical outlets that can dispense cannabis-mixed medicines. So far this year, Bangkok Post reports, 60,000-plus rounds of treatments have been provided to patients.

Across Thailand, 291 units have been established at state-run medical outlets that can dispense cannabis-mixed medicines. / Photo: aulynn / iStock / Getty Images Plusaulynn / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Additionally, 152 health promotion hospitals have been given the green light to expand their cannabis farms to meet the demand for weed-based medicines.

Recreational cannabis remains illegal in Thailand, but marijuana is legal for medical and research purposes. Even if for medical purposes, however, importing weed in the country remains a no-go.

There have also been proposals to allow people to grow as many as six marijuana plants in their homes.

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Thai hospitals get the go-ahead to produce traditional cannabis medicines - The GrowthOp