Thailand legalizes 'medical marijuana'

bangkok - The Thai parliament has approved the medical use of marijuana on Tuesday. It is the first legalization of the drug in a region with some of the strictest drug laws in the world.

The junta-appointed parliament in Thailand, a country that had a tradition of using marijuana until the 1930s to alleviate pain and fatigue, agreed to change the 1979 drugs law. In an extra parliamentary session, a storm flood of bills was handled for the holidays.