Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has clarified that the government is studying the possibility of legalising cannabis for medical use only.
This means recreational use of cannabis will remain illegal.
"If the clinical evidence gathered shows that cannabis is safe and efficacious for medical use, we will draw up a robust regulatory framework and clinical practice guideline.
"Rest assured, recreational use is not being considered," he said on Instagram.
Khairy (above) is on a four-day working visit to Thailand to assess the potential use of cannabis and ketum for medical use.
This is on the invitation of Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnavirakul.
Legalised in Thailand
Thailand is the first country in Asia to legalise the growing and consumption of cannabis, including for recreational purposes.
However, the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in cannabis products is highly regulated, and cannot be more than 0.2 percent, Reuters reported.
THC is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
The move to legalise cannabis was to boost its agriculture and tourism sector, but smoking cannabis in public can still violate public health laws.
It legalised medical cannabis in 2018.
The Thai government expects the cannabis industry, which includes more than 1,000 approved cosmetics and food products, will earn as much as US$435.16 million (RM1.95 billion) by 2026.
Several Malaysians are facing death sentences for dispensing and using medical cannabis.
One of them, Amiruddin @ Nadarajan Abdullah, 63, who uses a wheelchair, is facing 39 charges after reportedly being caught using medical cannabis to treat his cancer.
Singer and composer Yasin Sulaiman is also facing charges for cultivating 17 cannabis plants at his home.
His lawyer said he was using it for medicinal purposes to treat his bipolar disorder.
However, Yasin is not facing the death sentence as the trafficking charges were dropped. - Mkini
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