The Government Pharmaceutical Organization is set to start producing marijuana oil from seized marijuana in May next year, initially with a production target of 60,000 bottles per month at its extraction plant in the central province of Pathum Thani.
GPO board chairman Dr Sophon Mekthon said Wednesday that the state-run organization was waiting for the promulgation of the marijuana bill which is still pending in the National Legislative Assembly.
He disclosed that the board recently approved a 120-million baht fund for marijuana oil extraction operation at the facility in Pathum Thani province which, in the initial stage, will have the capacity to produce 60,000 bottles of marijuana oil per month.
In the next step, he said GPO would plant marijuana at the Pathum Thani oil extraction facility for plant development expected in next November in order to find the best marijuana strains which will be registered.
Of the 120 fund already allocated, eight million baht will be for the procurement of the extraction machinery which is expected to be delivered next March or April, he said.
The current facility at Klong 10, Pathum Thani was originally meant to produce liquid marijuana, but it will be used to extract marijuana oil. However, liquid marijuana can still be produced at a plant on Rama VI road.
Dr Niphon said the organization had a plan to expand the semi-industrial facility to a full-scale industrial facility in the future in Nong Yai district of Chon Buri where a 1,500 rai land plot is available to be used for marijuana cultivation
Besides products from marijuana, this future complex will serve a research centre and production centre for other traditional medicines from herbs.
