Malaysia Memorandum On Medical Cannabis And Hemp Expected Next Week

Malaysia is one of a handful of countries where someone can receive the death penalty for a cannabis-only offense. People caught selling cannabis in Malaysia, in any amount, can be subjected to the penalty, including Amiruddin Nadarajan Abdullah aka ‘Dr Ganja.’

Dr Ganja is currently facing the death penalty in Malaysia for reportedly selling ‘chocolate bars and brownie edibles made with hemp seed oil.’ He entered a not guilty plea earlier this year for the 36 charges that he is facing.

Even personal possession involving less than an ounce can yield a sentence of up to 5 years in prison and/or corporal punishment. Needless to say, Malaysia is in desperate need of cannabis reform.

With the exception of Thailand, the region where Malaysia is located is known for moving extremely slow when it comes to reforming cannabis laws. Fortunately, a small but significant step is expected next week in Malaysia. Per The Malaysian Insight:

A MEMORANDUM based on the findings of a public forum entitled Sustainable Future of Medical Cannabis, Industrial Hemp and Kratom (Ketum) Industry is expected to be handed over to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob by next week.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the move is to enable the crops to be used in the medical industry and exported.

Exactly what the memorandum will contain appears to be unknown at this time, however, it’s likely to include recommendations for a very strict and tightly-regulated medical cannabis industry. It will be very interesting to see if any timelines are included.

At the very least, Malaysia should legalize hemp production being that hemp can’t be used to induce intoxication. However, such a move would clearly not be enough.

Every suffering patient in Malaysia deserves safe access, just as every suffering patient deserves safe access everywhere else around the globe.