A Thai hospital canteen serves wacky meals – including cannabis salad and cannabis on toast.

The cafe within a hospital in Prachinburi province secured a special permit from the government to experiment with marijuana as a food ingredient.

Cooks at the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital canteen make special cannabis cookies, shortbread, and stir-fried snacks. Some of them are mixed with meat and sauces.

Diners can also order a vegetarian meal made from dip-fried cannabis leaves covered in batter, while cookies come in flavours of raisins and almonds.

They also have savory dishes such as ‘Pad Ka Prao’, which is meat stir-fried with marijuana leaves instead of the usual basil leaves.

Another popular dish is Kanom Kik Kak,’ which is pork toast blended with weed to make a spicy fried dish.

Dr. Phanphakrong Kwankhao, Head of the Empirical Evidence Center for Thai Traditional Medicine and Herbs at the Chao Phraya Aphaiphubet Hospital, said: ‘Growing cannabis or hemp is only allowed with a valid permit from the government.

‘Cannabis kept for a long time can produce high THC levels that can cause addiction. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, patients taking anticoagulants and psychotropic drugs, and people below 25 years of age are not allowed to consume cannabis.

‘Recent studies show that cannabis has hundreds of beneficial nutrients. THC can improve sleep and appetite while also reducing pain. CBD reduces inflammation. Back in the old days, people used to mix cannabis into different dishes to improve their appetite and well-being. The recommended amount of consumption is not more than five leaves per day. Today’s dishes are cannabis salad and cannabis toast. ‘

Selling marijuana is illegal in Thailand but the hospital restaurant has obtained permission to experiment with the plant in their food for further research.

Last year, laws were passed to allow private medical operators to grow and trade the crop for both export and import. However, marijuana cultivation is currently done solely by government agencies or closely regulated organisations.