Ministry will seek Unesco listing of Thai marijuana as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’
THE NATION
The Culture Ministry aims to ask Unesco to list Thai cannabis as an "intangible cultural heritage" as people from all regions use it like a herb while the Thai breed has become popular abroad, Dr Kwanchai Wisitthanon, deputy director-general of the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine, said on Thursday.
“If Unesco registers Thai cannabis as sort of a world heritage, known as an ‘intangible cultural heritage’, it will help spread the reputation of using cannabis for health and one that originates from Thailand,” Kwanchai said.
It is similar to cooperation between the Culture Ministry and the Public Health Ministry getting Thai massage registered as an intangible cultural heritage in 2019, he said.
As a first step, 30 species of Thai cannabis will be listed as a “National Wisdom Heritage” of Thailand. It is expected that the Culture Ministry will then proceed with the registration by March 2022 and subsequently apply for a Unesco listing in 2023.
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