Thailand Medical Cannabis: Government Pharmaceutical Organization delivers first medical marijuana

World
Europe

Thailand's Pharmaceutical Organization has delivered its first batch of cannabis oil to hospitals nationwide. Last December Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize the drug for medical use. One of the potential medical uses for cannabis is as a treatment for cancer. Our correspondent Dusita Saokaew has the story.

This is Gam. An eight year old with a beautiful smile and sadly and ugly rare debilitating disease. Looking at her now, it's hard to imagine what single mum, Sasinan has been through.

Gam was born with severe Hydrocephalus - a rare genetic brain disorder where fluid accumulates in the brain. The lack of brain matter meant Gam was struck with a catalogue of major disorders- epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay.

SASINAN SRITHONG GAM'S MOTHER "I would carry her with me to collect and sell garbage. When we came home, instead of seeing her smiley face, she would just cry and was always in pain. I lost all hope and wanted to give up."

Her short life has seen 9 surgeries. Each day, 5 seizures, and each morning, noon and night, almost 15 types of medication. But one by one, the drugs were failing. Desperate, she turned to CBD Oil, a product derived from the marijuana plant.

SASINAN SRITHONG GAM'S MOTHER "I had nothing else to lose in this life so I tried. First, she became seizure free. Second, she became more responsive and started showing emotion. Third, her development improved and she gained weight."

There is no doubt in Sasinan's mind that Gam's condition would have deteriorated if it wasn't for CBD Oil. But there was a problem, it wasn't legal in Thailand so she resorted to buying it illegally.

But all this is changing. Fast. Less than one year ago, Thailand had some of the harshest drug policies in the world. It's now the first country to legalize the drug for medical use in Southeast Asia. The supplies are stocked, packaging ready as the first batch of cannabis oil is distributed to state-run hospitals nationwide.

DR. SURANG LEELAWAT MEDICINAL CANNABIS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, RANGSIT UNIVERSITY "As a pharmacist, I can see that marijuana has a lot of benefits and can treat a lot of disorders but it was considered an illicit drugs. But once we legalized medical marijuana, we have been conducting research to develop medicine."

DUSITA SAOKAEW BANGKOK "This first line of weed-based products puts Thailand on the cutting edge of Southeast Asia's emerging legal marijuana industry. The country still remains in a transition period and setting up the legal framework will take time but this potentially lucrative first mover advantage, analysts say could rake in billion dollars in revenue."

With an "urgent agenda" to distribute 1 million bottles of marijuana extracts within 6 months, Thailand's "green gold rush" has begun. And for Sasinan, she feels she has already made her fortune - a new lease on life for her and her daughter. Dusita Saokaew, CGTN, Bangkok.