The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine's committee has initially approved eight formulas of cannabis-based traditional medicines and rejected one, according to its director-general.
Marut Jirasetasiri, the department chief, said one of the approved formulas was submitted by Daycha Siripatra, chairman of the Khaokwan Foundation and an advocate of liberalising cannabis for medical treatment.
Mr Daycha has handed out free cannabis oil extract for cancer patients for three years.
Mr Daycha's formula is among 68 traditional formulas with cannabis as ingredients submitted by traditional medicine doctors to the department for approval, he said.
Dr Marut said the eight formulas need further approval from the administrative committee on medical use of marijuana and kratom and the Public Health Ministry's committee on control of narcotic drugs.
For patient use, they also will have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The use of cannabis for treatment must be documented and reported to authorities so the state can learn about its effectiveness and problems.
Pramote Stienrut, the department's deputy chief, yesterday said the committee focuses on drug safety and local wisdom when reviewing the formulas.
Concerns are being raised about possible adverse effects of Mr Daycha's formula which is said to contain cannabis as the key ingredient.
Asked whether approval means the legalisation of the cannabis-based medicine, Dr Pramote said the department has no authority to amend the drug law allowing general use of traditional Thai cannabis-based medicines.
The use of marijuana is strictly regulated by the Narcotics Act, he said.
He said that for general use all the medicines will have to be included in the national core medicine index and pass efficacy tests.