Malaysia Seeks Inspiration From Thailand to Legalize Medical Cannabis

Malaysia plans to emulate Thailand’s approach to legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, a Malaysian official said on Wednesday.

“We are developing our own framework for the use of cannabis for medical purposes and want to learn from Thailand,” an official with Malaysia’s health ministry told Reuters on Wednesday, on condition of anonymity.

To keep up with the evolution of cannabis in Malaysia, Thailand, and around the world, download our free cannabis news app.

Thailand to Present Work on Legalized Medical Cannabis

The remarks come after Thailand’s health minister said he would meet his Malaysian counterpart at an APEC health ministers’ meeting next week, where Thailand will present its work to legalize cannabis for medical purposes.

With an ancient tradition of using cannabis to relieve pain and fatigue – a tradition interrupted in 1934 when it was outlawed – Thailand legalized the plant for medical purposes in 2018, and has become a June the first Asian country to decriminalize the cultivation of cannabis and its use in food and drink.

The Status of Cannabidiol Products in Malaysia

The cultivation and recreational use of cannabis is illegal in Malaysia, as recently experienced by Thai tourists, and possessing more than 200 grams carries a mandatory death sentence.

However, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin clarified that importation and use of medical cannabis on a doctor’s prescription is permitted if declared to the Drug Control Authority and authorized by it.

In April, the minister said the government welcomed clinical studies into the medical use of cannabidiol, a cannabis compound that does not have a psychotropic effect.

Last month, state news agency Bernama said the Health Ministry intended to start registering some cannabidiol products next year after studying their safety, although cultural approval is still a long way off.

A Business Worth Tens of Billions of Baht

Thailand’s Minister of Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, the main promoter of the legalization of medical cannabis within the government, estimates that this windfall could weigh more than 100 billion baht (2.8€ billion) a year within five years.

“The topics of discussion will be how to jointly advance this type of policy to create benefits, both economically and medically,” Anutin Charnvirakul told a news conference in Bangkok.

“We want everyone to recognize the properties of this plant,” he said Wednesday. “The more people have an interest in this area, the more development and research there will be.”

Thailand Provides Example for Malaysia

Thailand, which in June removed cannabis from the list of category five narcotics even before having put in place a new adapted legal framework, has since seen an explosion in the sale and consumption of recreational cannabis on the streets and in new, entirely dedicated shops.

And while tourism is picking up after two years of almost zero attendance, the authorities have forcefully recalled in recent days that smoking cannabis in public spaces remains punishable by a fine or even a prison sentence.

The Minister of Health stressed, however, that the option of ultimately allowing recreational cannabis use in Malaysia remained on the table.

—

(Featured image by Stephen Cobb via Unsplash)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third-party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff, or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published by Le Petit Journal, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.