MP wants govt to table science, data-driven paper on medical marijuana
PARLIAMENT | Youth party leader Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has called on the government to table a science and data-driven working paper on the good and bad of the use of hemp and medical marijuana.
The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) co-founder said the hemp or medical marijuana industry is set to become a RM400 billion industry in four years and Malaysia should get in the game early instead of playing catch up 10-20 years later.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Syed Saddiq (Independent-Muar) said...
PARLIAMENT | Youth party leader Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has called on the government to table a science and data-driven working paper on the good and bad of the use of hemp and medical marijuana.
The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) co-founder said the hemp or medical marijuana industry is set to become a RM400 billion industry in four years and Malaysia should get in the game early instead of playing catch up 10-20 years later.
Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Syed Saddiq (Independent-Muar) said the topic of medical marijuana should not be avoided just because it is a sensitive issue.
"Studies based on science and data have shown that the alcohol and tobacco industries are far more dangerous (than medical marijuana).
"But there won't be any moral courage to discuss this with facts and figures.
"I wish to suggest that the government hold a detail discussion for us to look into approval for the hemp and medical marijuana industry," he added.
Alternative treatment
Syed Saddiq said medical marijuana could be used as an alternative treatment for certain mental health disorders as done in other countries.
He reiterated decisions on the matter must be based on science and data.
The previous Pakatan Harapan government - which Syed Saddiq was a member of - had been open to research on medical marijuana.
It had also planned to decriminalise drug use.
The issue was in the news when Muhammad Lukman Mohamad was sentenced to death on Aug 30, 2018, under the Dangerous Drugs Act for possession of 3.1 litres of cannabis oil, 279g of compressed cannabis and 1.4kg of substances containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Earlier this year on Feb 17, a three-member Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat allowed an appeal to set aside his conviction on two counts of drug trafficking.
However, despite the various steps forward on the issue, as with many Harapan policy announcements on the matter, the laws were never changed.
As of February 2019, 1,281 individuals were reported to be on death row in the country, with 73 percent having been convicted of drug trafficking under Section 39(b).
Following the latest arrest, #KajiBukanKeji campaigners and Malaysia Society of Awareness (Masa) expressed their disappointment that the courts are still mandated to issue heavy-handed punishments given to those found guilty of drug-related charges.
There is a clear need for drug policy reform and greater discretion in sentencing, particularly when punishments as heavy and irreversible as the death penalty are involved, they said.
They cited the United Nations’ removal of marijuana from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs - where it was listed alongside specific deadly, addictive opioids.
The potential medical uses (and downsides) of marijuana and its derivatives remain an active area of research and one that is likely to become more active as more countries legalise marijuana for various purposes including for medical use.
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