The Thai Ministry of Public Health signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) today (Thursday) with the RxLeaf World Medica Company, to establish an international medical cannabis research centre, with the aim of developing and producing world-class cannabis-based herbal medicines.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiattibhoom Vongrachit presided over the signing between Dr. Somsak Akksilp, director-general of the Medical Services Department, and Nonglak Kowattana, CEO of RxLeaf World Medica.
The signing of the MOU coincided with an international conference on medical cannabis, which was attended by experts from several countries.
The Thai Medical Services Department is playing a pivotal role in research into and development of herbs and cannabis based medicines in Thailand, in an effort to enable patients to get access to the alternative medications.
The Thai Food and Drug Administration has, so far, approved 218 formulae for cannabis and hemp based cosmetics, such as skin and body care products.
RxLeaf World Medica is a subsidiary of Amara Asia Company, which is a leader in the production of high quality cannabis extracts for medical use. The company has a 10.7 hectare cannabis plantation, to supply raw materials for its production unit.
The international medical cannabis research centre will enable doctors, scientists and pharmacists from Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and Thailand, who are specialized in medical cannabis, to work together as a team, to conduct research on plant species, cultivation, production of cannabis extracts, formulation development and clinical trials.
