Minister dreams of turning Thailand into marijuana hub

In a keynote address at a seminar on how cannabis can help revive the economy, Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutecha said the goal became crystal clear when the government removed the herb from the list of narcotics.
Now, cannabis and hemp can be used under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
“We now offer opportunities to different organisations, institutions and businesses to grow cannabis. So far, more than 100 applications have been sent in and nearly half have been approved,” he said, adding that the plant is being grown on a trial basis. “Extracts are also being made for use in hospitals. There is hope and progress,” Satit said. 
He added that once the cannabis industry is standardised in two years, Thailand will have the potential to become a global hub for marijuana.