Deputy Home minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed today said that legalising the use of marijuana will only serve to worsen drug abuse problems in society.

Referring to the United States as an example, Nur Jazlan said that states which had legalised certain drugs are now struggling to manage drug abuse related issues.

"The US cannot handle drug abuse issues that's why they are now focusing on legalising all these drugs.

"But it doesn’t stop the abuse. In fact, in Massachusetts it is also a big problem," he said in rubbishing a suggestion for the government to decriminalise marijuana.

The call was first made by Youth Parliament representative Muhamad Ridhwan Muhamad Rosli who reportedly said that there are youths who do not consider marijuana as a drug.

Noting that some Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement partners like Australia and the US had already decriminalised marijuana use, Ridhwan also stressed that he was not advocating for the legalisation of marijuana but merely wanted it to be regulated.

Nur Jazlan said decriminalising marijuana will not contribute towards reducing drug addiction problems.

"You know, because they (in the US) are liberal, they legalise the use of drugs especially the lighter, less potent ones, then it becomes an addiction problem.

"Now that they cannot control drugs, they are thinking about legalising more and more drugs, but it doesn’t solve the problem," he added when met on the sidelines of a visit by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar and Armed Forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin to observe heightened security measures in place at Pavilion Mall in Kuala Lumpur.

Khalid had recently told Malaysiakini he believes Malaysia is not ready for marijuana to be decriminalised as it could be a platform for abuse of other more addictive drugs.