Thailand Develops Rapid Test Kit to Avoid Cannabis Overconsumption

There were nine people rushed to the hospital due to overconsumption of cannabis through edibles and recreational use since the legalisation of marijuana in the country on June 9, the Department of Medical Services reported.

The patients, who experienced unusually fast heartbeat, fluctuating pulse, and vomiting, were treated in different medical facilities including Nopparatrajathanee Hospital, Lerdsin Hospital, and Rajavithi Hospital.

Following these incidents, the Department of Medical Sciences announced on Wednesday, June 22, the development of a rapid test kit for cannabis extract.

The test kit is called “Test Kann,” which can identify the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis oil. The capped THC potency for all marijuana products should not be more than 0.2% to be considered legal in Thailand.

At a press conference, the department's chief, Dr. Supakit Sirirak, said the rapid test kit was completed in less than three weeks and can provide results in 15 minutes.

The rapid test makes use of immunochromatography, which is a method that detects disease by dropping the substance onto a test strip. Similar to COVID-19 test kits, Test Kann shows one line on the letter C if the marijuana product contains more than 0.2% THC, otherwise, two lines indicate less than 0.2% THC.