Over 60 cannabis-related studies have been successfully launched since the plant was legalised for medical use three years ago, bolstering efforts to find alternative ways to treat cancer, insomnia and other health problems, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Director of the Medical Cannabis Institute, Kitti Losuwannarak, said since cannabis was legalised for medical use in 2019, over 60 research projects have been launched by a number of agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, Health Systems Research Institute and hospitals affiliated with the Public Health Ministry.
Dr Kitti said the results strongly suggest that cannabis-based medications have helped patients suffering from health problems who have not responded to other treatments.
While there hasn't been enough research to suggest that cannabis-based treatments can in fact help cancer patients enter remission, research carried out by the Department of Medical Services and Department of Medical Sciences suggest that the combination of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis extracts can slow the growth of cancer cells.
Cannabis-based insomnia treatments have also proven to be effective, though research into the effect of such treatments on patients with psychiatric conditions has returned mixed results, Dr Kitti said.
Next, he said, the government will study the effect of cannabis products on people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Since the use of cannabis was deregulated last month, the number of patients seeking cannabis-based medicines as a treatment has jumped by 50% compared to last year.
The high demand for cannabis has drawn more entrepreneurs into farming, with the number of individuals seeking to grow the crop still rising since its consumption was legalised.