Asia plants seeds for medical cannabis market

Thailand, Singapore and China pursue research into health care uses

A small marijuana plant grows in a lab at Niagara College in Ontario, Canada.

HUICHEN CHOU, Contributing writer

November 4, 2018 06:09 JST

TAIPEI -- Several Asian countries are considering steps to decriminalize medical cannabis, potentially putting the region on course to becoming the world's main production hub of the drug.

A proposal to revise the legal framework in Thailand was submitted last month to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who has supported the plan. This makes it possible for medical cannabis legislation to be enacted by the end of the year.