Thailand is assisting farmers and patients to register for medical marijuana which was legalized late last year. The National Farmers Council is conducting seminars to educate the public about the hotly debated issue. Meanwhile, health officials say they are starting tests of cannabis oil on patients. Lawmakers voted in December to make Thailand the first country in southeast Asia to legalize marijuana for medical purposes. Recreational use is still illegal. Marijuana has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries in Thailand. Despite being banned in 1934, Thailand became one of the world's biggest exporters of cannabis until the 1980s. CGTN's Tony Cheng has more from Chiang Mai.

The rolling hills of Northern Thailand are criss crossed with drug smuggling routes, the golden triangle is nearby. Here grows a crop that was illegal in the past but could be vital to Thailand's future.

Hidden behind a tall green fence to keep out prying eyes, Dr Sarita checks on her latest harvest. The spiky leaves and plumb buds are familiar to many, the cannabis plant. This variety has been bred for hemp and is low in THC, the chemical that gives a high. But the climate suits the plant and any variety will thrive here.

DR. SARITA PINMANEE RESEARCHER, HIGHLAND RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE "Depending on the breed you can grow and harvest it all year round and use the plant for all sort of different products."

Inside the greenhouses, more varieties are grown for research. Some yield large amounts of oil, high in omega 6 and omega three oils, and a potential superfood. Other varieties are bred for their hardy nature or rapid growth. And everywhere a thick pungent smell.

TONY CHENG CHIANG MAI "Well you can see just how well these marijuana plants thrive under these conditions. These plants are well over 2 meters tall, but the bit that's of real interest if you're growing recreational marijuana is the buds and here they're very thick and very potent."

In Bangkok, under the controlled conditions of the Government Pharmaceutical lab, more potent varieties are grown. These will be prescribed to treat a variety of ailments now that the use of medical marijuana has been legalized. But it may not stop there.

In the recent General election, one of the parties that performed best, ran on a core promise of legalization for all. They think weed could be Thailand's next cash crop.

With consumption exploding in the US and Canada, the legal marijuana market is worth billions. And Thailand has one other big advantage. Expensive growing techniques in the West cost approximately 71 cents a gram.

With sunlight and water in plentiful supply, it's estimated in Thailand that's as low as 5 cents per gram. As retailers expand the market, the opportunities are limitless.

JIM PLAMONDON THAILAND CANNABIS CORPORATION "The best strains, the best climate. We've got an entire supply chain, not just of cannabis, but also the products that cannabis goes into. Cosmetics, topical creams, edibles, packaged food and bev, pharmaceutical medicines, Thailand exports a lot of pharmaceuticals so everything cannabis is likely to go into, Thailand already exports."

The plant known as weed, could soon be a very valuable commodity in Thailand. But don't tell too many people, they might just think you're high. Tony Cheng, CGTN, Chiang Mai.