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Read the following story by Karnjana Karnjanatawe from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.
Though more and more countries are legalising marijuana for medical purposes, it remains illegal in Thailand.
SPARKING CHANGE
However, recognising the gradually shifting tide, Rangsit University founded the Medical Cannabis Research Team last year in the hopes of finding scientific proof of the medical benefits of the drug - and, pending a change in the law, to bring it back into Thai medicine for the first time in centuries.
Thailand’s pioneers in cannabis study are three pharmacists from the university’s pharmacy faculty, namely Asst Prof Dr Surang Leelawat, Dr Worawan Saingam and Assoc Prof Dr Narisa Kamkaen.
MARVELLOUS MEDICINE
Prominent among the three is Dr Surang, who broke new ground as the first Thai academic pharmacist to conduct research into the use of marijuana to treat cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer.
In 2006, she received a two-year grant from the Thailand Research Fund to study the effects of medical marijuana. Using marijuana extracts, she found that the herbal compound could slow cancer-cell growth and stop it spreading to different parts of the body.
The result was verified and published in Cancer Investigation, a medical journal in the United States, in 2010. The full title of the research is “The Dual Effects of 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Cholangiocarcinoma Cells: Anti-Invasion Activity at Low Concentration and Apoptosis Induction at High Concentration.”
“A lot of medical research showed that marijuana extracts can stop or slow the growth of some cancers, but no one had studied its effects on cholangiocarcinoma,” she said.
DR FEELGOOD
She chose cholangiocarcinoma because it is a primary liver cancer - a leading cause of death in Thailand, especially among men. The Northeast has the highest rate of bile duct cancer, largely caused by liver fluke, a parasite often found in raw fish dishes.
The disease is a silent killer because patients are usually not aware of the sickness until it is in an advanced stage. About 20,000 people die per year from liver cancer.
“I thought if I could discover something about a cure, I’d be proud,” she said.
VARIOUS BENEFITS
After her initial findings, Dr Surang didn’t have a chance to pursue her research until she picked it up again last year. One of the reasons for this is that marijuana is still an illegal drug in Thailand, despite the fact that for centuries it was part of Thai traditional medicine.
Use of the cannabis for medical purposes can be traced back to the period of King Narai the Great (1656-1688) of Ayutthaya Kingdom, according to the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine Department Director Dr Kwanchai Visithanon. It was used to improve food intake, promote sleep, relieve pain and anxiety, and treat epilepsy.
“Cannabis was part of at least 91 formulas of Thai traditional medicine. The portion of weed used in each formula was small. It was also mixed with other herbal ingredients to reduce the side effects of marijuana,” Dr Kwanchai said.
Cannabis itself has more than 400 chemical compounds, but the two active components used for medicine are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is responsible for the high that users feel, but can also ease pain and nausea, reduce inflammation and act as an antioxidant. CBD, meanwhile, can counteract the high caused by THC and can also reduce anxiety, pain and sleeplessness.
Section 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. What is the article about?
a. The harmful effects of marijuana.
b. The benefits of cannabis.
c. Chemical treatment.
2. What is Cancer Investigation?
a. A thesis.
b. A journal.
c. A cancer treatment centre.
3. According to the article, how many Thai people die of liver cancer each year?
a. More than 200,000 people.
b. About 20,000 people.
c. Roughly 12,000 people.
4. When did Dr Surang first study the effects of medical marijuana?
a. Last year.
b. Two years ago.
c. In 2006.
5. Who gave her the grant?
a. The Thailand Research Fund.
b. Rangsit University.
c. The Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine Department.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Surang is particularly interested in the study of lung cancer.
b. Cannabis was used for medical purposes in Thailand in the past.
c. Cannabis is composed of 40 chemical compounds.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. CBD makes users feel high.
b. The Medical Cannabis Research Team was founded last year.
c. Cholangiocarcinoma is a form of cancer.
Section 2
Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, adjective, adverb or preposition.
8. extracts
…………..
9. slow
…………..
10. advanced
…………..
11. especially
…………..
12. intake
…………..
Section 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
In some parts of the world, marijuana extracts have been …..13….. for treating patients with …..14….. types of ailment, such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, cancer, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis, or MS. Today marijuana is …..15….. for medical purposes in much of Europe, South America, Australia and Canada, as well as in 29 US states. A …..16….. of countries …..17….. its use for recreation. …..18….. countries - such as Chile, Colombia, Jamaica and Spain - even allow cultivation …..19….. the weed.
13.
a. using
b. used
c. use
14.
a. each
b. plenty
c. many
15.
a. legal
b. legally
c. legalise
16.
a. hand
b. handy
c. handful
17.
a. has legalised
b. have legalised
c. have been legalised
18.
a. Some
b. In
c. With
19.
a. of
b. on
c. for
Section 4
Underline one grammatically incorrect word in each of the following sentences. Then, write down the grammatically correct word in the space given.
20. The success of ours Medical Cannabis Research team is remarkable.
……………………
21. When the narcotics law was enacted in 1979, marijuana was removed as a traditional herb medicine.
……………………
22. It is illegal to growing the plant, so the research team asked for 40kg of seized marijuana from the Narcotics Control Board.
……………………
23. Marijuana does not has such effects.
……………………
24. It is important to amend the Narcotic Drugs Act to allow patient to use marijuana for medical purposes.
……………………
Answers
Section 1
1. b.
2. b.
3. b.
4. c.
5. a.
6. b.
7. a.
Section 2
8. Noun.
9. Verb.
10. Adjective.
11. Adverb.
12. Noun.
Section 3
13. b.
14. c.
15. a.
16. c.
17. a.
18. a.
19. a.
Section 4
20. ours; our
21. herb; herbal
22. growing; grow
23. has; have
24. patient; patients
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
