Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - The Thai Red Cross Society isopening online registration until May 21 for people nationwide to possessmarijuana for medical treatments. Almost 10,000 people have registered so far.

Dr. Thirawat Hemachutha, head of Chulalongkorn Hospital’sFaculty of Medicine’s Health Scientists Group for New Diseases, said the ThaiRed Cross Society in cooperation with the National Farmers Council has openedthe online registration for the use of marijuana for patients until May 21 inaccordance with the Drugs Act B.E. 2562.

Theregistration can be made via www.cbd-oss.org or QR Code. Those whoregister are required to fill out the form about personal data, illnesses, adoctor’s certificate and the confirmation of the possession of marijuana andobtain a status code which will be sent to the Food and Drugs Administration toconfirm that the registration has been made before May 21.

The FDA will set a schedule for a patient to submit the formfor the possession of marijuana attached with documentation. The registereddata will be kept as confidential for which the authorities cannot arrest thepatient or collect a fine following that date, given the patient’s innocenceand truthful information.

Those who need to use marijuana for medical treatments butmay not obtain a doctor’s certificate for the time being may call for one at alater date after they have registered online.

However,the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Public Health is yet to reach mutualunderstanding with many hospitals which may not have issued certificates whichonly refer to specific illnesses and by no means signify any approval for theuse of marijuana.

The data on the patient’s use of marijuana are truthfulinformation on a quantity of marijuana for medical use so that both public andprivate sectors may provide quality marijuana for legal and optimum uses withpatients nationwide.–NNT/VNA