Cannabis and Hemp Expo lights up Buri Ram

The Cannabis and Hemp Expo kicks off today at Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram. The three-day event will run until March 7. It is organised by Buri Ram province with the support of the Public Health Ministry.

Buri Ram hosts the ganja expo for the second time after the first event in April 2019 attracted more than 150,000 visitors. At that time, the aim was to promote the use of cannabis for medical purposes and to push forward the legalisation of cannabis for research and development. A key supporter of the expo in 2019 was Newin Chidchob, a co-founder of the Bhumjaithai Party, which has long pushed for cannabis legalisation, including allowing households to grow six cannabis plants. Based on the success in 2019, Buri Ram planned to host the expo annually, however, the event was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the expo’s theme covers the use of ganja (cannabis) and ganchong (hemp) to benefit health and other industries such as textiles, food and cosmetics.

Deputy Prime Minister and the Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also the leader of Bhumjaithai Party, will preside over today’s opening ceremony at 10am.

The expo will consist of seminars, exhibitions and workshops demonstrating how food and other products can be prepared with cannabis leaves or oil. There also will be a consultation service by a team from the Food and Drug Administration for those who want to legally grow marijuana and hemp plants.

The Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine will open its cannabis clinics and receive up to 540 patients per day. Booking is recommended at bit. ly/2NVkLjs or via the Ganja in TTM app available for download at the Google Play Store.

The Cannabis and Hemp Expo is open to the public without a registration fee.