The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation's (GPO) 2.4-rai site in tambon Nong Yai of Chon Buri's Nong Yai district has been certified as the country's first cannabis farm under the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards of the Department of Agriculture (DOA).
Pichet Wiriyaphaha, director-general of the DOA, said on Friday his officials inspected the marijuana farm on Tuesday to conduct an assessment. It successfully met all the criteria, making it the first cannabis farm in the country to gain this certification.
"Passing this assessment means that all cannabis plants grown from here are safe, reliable and of good quality. They can be used as raw materials for medicinal cannabis products and they are safe for consumers," he said.
This will serve as a model for farmers nationwide seeking to grow cannabis for medicinal purposes, he added.
The inspection came after the GPO asked the department to determine whether the farm would make the grade in terms of GAP standards.
The department has promoted the use of plantations for medicinal cannabis under the guidance of Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Mananya Thaiset, Mr Pichet said.
He said the GPO expressed its readiness to support other cannabis farmers with the GAP assessment provided they are also focused on producing medicinal marijuana.