Tens of thousands of people, including foreigners, today flocked to the Chang International Circuit, in the northeastern province of Buri Ram, to attend Thailand’s first exhibition of marijuana and marijuana extracts for medical use.

The three-day event features talks and panel discussions on laws related to marijuana and the medical benefits of marijuana extracts, such as cannabis oil, by experts such as Dr. Siriwat Wongsiri of the Royal Academy, Dr. Somyos Kittimunkong, Kamhom na Lanxang, alias Kanja Witch, and Panthep Puapongpan of Rangsit University.

Marijuana plants, seeds, flowers and extracts are on display and visitors are allowed to try cannabis oil for medical purposes.

There is a zone at the exhibition for patients to apply for legal possession of marijuana or marijuana extracts on the condition that they produce a medical certificate allowing them to use marijuana or its extracts for a medical purpose.

Patients can also apply for treatment without charge.

A patient from Bangkok, Mr. Vithoon Dubdee, told the media that he suffers from migraines and did not sleep or eat well until he tried cannabis oil, prescribed by a traditional doctor, when hiscondition improved. His problem is that he cannot carry cannabis oil with him because it is not legally permissible, said Vithoon, adding that he attended the exhibition to apply for the legal right to possess cannabis oil and to learn more about the medical benefits of marijuana.

Another visitor, Mr. Sombat Malasai from the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, said he visited the exhibition to learn from the experts about various aspects of marijuana, such as its cultivation, its medical use and legal issues, because he thought marijuana could be his choice as an economic crop.