Bersatu man: Selangor can be world's biggest ganja producer for medical use

A Bersatu representative has urged the Selangor state government to consider cultivating marijuana plants.

Jeram assemblyperson Mohd Shaid Rosli said the state has the potential to become the world's biggest marijuana producer.

"Allow me to give an example. You can get RM3,000 an acre, a year, for palm oil.

"But marijuana can bring in returns of up to RM9 million a year per acre with three times the amount of produce cultivated.

"So if Selangor can cultivate more than 100 acres, we can become the biggest producer with handsome returns," Mohd Shaid was quoted saying by the Malay Mail.

Mohd Shaid's proposal was greeted by laughter from his colleagues present at the state assembly sitting today.

He said that ganja cultivation for the purpose of research and export could be done in Kuala Selangor which is as an agricultural area.

According to him, the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 clearly stated that government departments could cultivate marijuana for medical purposes.

Mohd Shaid Rosli

Mohd Shaid's proposal, however, was shot down by Ijok assemblyperson Dr Idris Ahmad who pointed out that enforcement issues might arise from the proposal.

"Historically speaking, marijuana was used for medicinal purposes but it was abused, just like opium and morphine. It is a dangerous medicine and must be controlled.

"I'm a medical doctor who is well-versed in issues with controlled medicine in need of tight enforcement," Idris said.

While acknowledging the concern, Mohd Shaid said the location of the marijuana cultivation areas and its processing should be made accessible to certain parties only.

"Don't worry about the black market and so on. We need to 'tighten' the system so there are no leakages and (there won't be issues with) addiction among the rakyat," he said. - Mkini