Rangsit University on Tuesday opened a medicinal cannabis research institute it claims to be the first of its kind in the country in a bid to help grow cannabis, improve strains and develop new drugs.

Arthit Ourairat, rector of Rangsit University, who presided over the opening, said the university has long been aware of the medical potential of cannabis and was the first in Thailand to seek permission from the Ministry of Public Health to conduct research into the plant in 2016.

Mr Arthit said the university was allowed by the ministry to begin studying cannabis in 2017 and has worked in collaboration with other colleges and faculties before being given the green light to establish its own institute.

Besides medical research, Mr Arthit said the university has now been allowed by the ministry to grow its own cannabis plants in order to develop strains that specifically yield strong amounts of the THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD (Cannabidiol) and CBN (Cannabinol) compounds.

With a rising demand for natural medicines, cannabis compounds, like THC, CBD and CBN, are in increasingly high demand due to their wide range of health benefits.

Mr Arthit said around 50 cannabis plants will be grown in 32-square-metre areas with indoor temperature control devices and CCTV on the fifth floor of the College of Agricultural Innovation Biotechnology and Food at the university. The plants will be taken care of by the research institute.