And on Tuesday (9 October), we took a step towards the right direction.

License and approval still needed

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that medical marijuana can now be used in Malaysia, Malay Mail reported.

The use of medical marijuana is permitted because it does not violate the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Poisons Act 1952 or the Sale of Drugs Act 1952, Khairy said in a written parliamentary reply to Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

As such, products containing canabis can be imported and used in Malaysia as long as they adhered to existing laws.

However, Khairy noted that the products would first have to be registered with the local Drug Control Authority (DCA), and the importer must have a valid licence and approval under the Acts listed above.

He added that the products can only be sold by a registered pharmacist or medical officer.

“Taking into account the quality, safety and effectiveness of the product, anyone with scientific proof that cannabis (hemp) can be used for medical purposes can register their product containing cannabis with the DCA to be evaluated and registered under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 to be sold in Malaysia.

“Cannabis is also under the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961 Schedule 1. Schedule 1 limits the use of cannabis to medicinal and scientific purposes that involve the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution, trade, usage and ownership,” Khairy said in his reply.

The decision to legalise the use of medical marijuana is indeed very much welcomed as people with chronic illnesses can get some relief.

Back in September, Syed Saddiq called on the government to look into legalising medical marijuana and hemp, citing that the industry could be worth over RM400 billion in the next four years.