Cabinet gives the nod to marijuana for medical use

 It will next go before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for deliberations.
The Narcotics Code Bill won the nod of the Cabinet on Tuesday. 

“The Cabinet has approved the bill in principle. The next step is for relevant authorities to carefully plan the enforcement,” Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said yesterday. “Even when this bill becomes a law, marijuana will be used for medical purposes only,” he said.
Last week, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) revealed that it would be taking a key role with regard to growing and improving marijuana.
At present, several countries have legalised marijuana for medical use to treat people suffering neurological conditions, terminal cancer, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
In a related development, Bangkok police said they had raided a marijuana grower’s two-storey commercial building in Lat Phrao Soi 87 yesterday afternoon. 

Following a complaint that loud music was coming from the building in Suksabai Villa Housing Estate and that teenagers were buying drugs there, the police conducted a search at 3pm. 
The ground floor had a temperature-controlled room to grow marijuana. There were eight marijuana plants and 10 grams of seeds, said Metropolitan Police Area 4 chief Pol Maj-General Theerapong Wongratpitak, who led the search. 
Some dried marijuana and a bong were allegedly found in a bedroom.

The 35-year-old occupant, Somprasong Kaewkhoon, reportedly confessed, saying he learned about growing marijuana during a recent trip to Australia and studied it further on YouTube. 
He apparently said he started growing it last year, with good results and profits. 
One plant can yield 50 grams of dry cannabis, which can be sold for around Bt35,000 per 50 grams. 
He was charged with manufacturing and possessing narcotics with intent to sell.