Malaysian Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin participated in a bilateral meeting on medical cannabis with Thai Minister of Health Anutin Charnvirakul. Their objective ? Exploring the potential health benefits of cannabis and determining what Malaysia can learn from its neighboring country’s medical cannabis policies.
Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
Jamaluddin also met with the Thai Government Pharmaceutical Organization and key industry players. He later visited greenhouses growing cannabis.
In Pattaya: @Khairykj visited Siam Cannabis Land or Legend Siam, a 350-acre cannabis city project that focuses on developing comprehensive health products and medical services. It houses cannabis nurseries, cannabis museum & the Institute of Cannabis Sciences. pic.twitter.com/RvM8wWXL64
—Ismail Amsyar (@IsmailAmsyar) August 24, 2022
In a press conference, Jamaluddin said: “Malaysia does not want to be left behind. Therefore, we want to see and study the effectiveness and safety of using cannabis for medical purposes.”
Meanwhile, the official assured that, for now, Malaysia is only considering the use of cannabis for medical purposes and not its cultivation, but it is not ruling it out in the future.
“If there is a strong demand to make it an industry, we will look at growing cannabis. We will take one step at a time,” he said.
The minister concluded that the government will make a decision on the use of medical cannabis before the end of the year.
“I want to act quickly… I am convinced that we will be able to take a stand this year. The main decision, yes or no, will be made this year and the policy will probably be implemented next year. That’s my goal,” he said.
