Monopoly of medical cannabis not in public interest: Experts
The concept of intellectual protection often served monopolies and should not apply to important things in people’s lives such as drugs
The Nation (Thailand)
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Authorities in Thailand overseeing a flood of patents for medical cannabis must consider the public interest, otherwise a commercial monopoly of the medicines and cultivation would result, experts warn. Advocacy group Thai Drug Watch said that the Intellectual Property Department is jeopardising public access to cannabinoid medicines and other drugs by limiting its focus to the economic benefits for big business. This would place full control over the entire product chain of medical cannabis in the hands of transnational pharmaceutical companies, it added. (See also: Will Thailand’s legal medical marijuana seed a new black market?)
tags:
