ONCB warns of pot extract contamination

ONCB warns of pot extract contamination

ONCB chief Niyom Termsrisuk, right, and DMSC deputy chief Phichet Banyati speak at the ONCB headquarters. Tawatchai Kemgumnerd
ONCB chief Niyom Termsrisuk, right, and DMSC deputy chief Phichet Banyati speak at the ONCB headquarters. Tawatchai Kemgumnerd

Most of the 22 tonnes of seized cannabis held by the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) will be destroyed while a small sample will be handed over to medical institutes, the ONCB has said.

ONCB secretary-general Niyom Termsrisuk said high levels of pesticides and cadmium were found in nearly 18 tonnes of cannabis while about two tonnes were found contaminated with cadmium.

Only about seven kilogrammes of the samples were free of both pesticide and cadmium contamination and these samples will be handed to medical institutes.

The examination of the cannabis stock came after the ONCB agreed to distribute the drug in its possession to 10 medical and research facilities registered to use cannabis for research purposes.

About 2.3 tonnes of the cannabis will be distributed for research purposes this month, he said.

Mr Niyom also warned patients who use cannabis extracts to treat their illnesses about the dangers of using these products as there is a possibility that the products they use may be contaminated with harmful substances.

Phichet Banyati, deputy director-general of Department of Medical Sciences, said testing cannabis for contamination is an important process because some hazardous substances cannot be destroyed during the extraction process.

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