MALAYSIA should play a serious role and take progressive action to allow the use of cannabis and hemp, especially cannabidiol (CBD), for medical purposes, Ras Adiba Radzi said.

The senator, representing persons with disabilities (PwD), said the use of the substances is to boost access to quality health services.

“It is in line with Strategic Thrust 4 of the Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities 2016-2022, which is to increase access to quality health services for their well-being,” she said in a statement today.

Ras Adiba said this is also in line with Malaysia’s commitment to article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which emphasises that PwD have the right to enjoy the highest standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability.

“Through the effort, it will open a new wing in the medical sector that could help reduce the effects of diseases such as chronic anxiety and so on, which have been proved through several scientific studies,” she said.

Ras Adiba said the government and civil society groups must intensify activities, campaigns and education for the public because knowledge on cannabis use is still low.

To this end, she proposed nine areas to the government for immediate action to enable cannabis and hemp to be used in the medical sector in Malaysia.

One of the proposals is to create a cannabis and hemp road map by the Health Ministry and the Parliamentary Medical Cannabis Caucus, comprising stakeholders such as activists, civil society groups, cannabis experts and representatives of vulnerable groups, especially PwD and the elderly.

She also proposed that the results of the study on the impact of cannabis cultivation be tabled in Parliament by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries and expedite the amendment of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 to differentiate between CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

In addition, she proposed that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) develop new technologies through Gamma radiation to produce new variations of cannabis sativa that have low THC psychoactive substance content; making hemp cultivation in Malaysia one of the main commodities that has similar characteristics to kenaf in terms of cultivation methods and hemp fibre processing technology.

The other proposals are to provide research grants to institutes and universities to conduct research activities and clinical studies, the Ministry of Higher Education and Mosti should work together to create a consortium research group that focuses on “medical cannabis” research and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin allows more industries to carry out hemp cultivation activities for research purposes under section 6B(2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

“Most western countries, especially the United States, are now more advanced in the hemp and cannabis industry,” Ras Adiba said.

“Many scientific studies conducted in the country have proved to be effective in various sectors such as health, medicine, pharmaceuticals, beauty products and so on.

“Therefore, I am confident that by allowing the use of CBD and cannabis cultivation in Malaysia, it will help, among others, the PwD community and chronic patients of cancer, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, mental problems and emotional stress.”

She said Malaysia as a country with world-class health tourism should also give emphasis on the use of medical cannabis.

“When else if not now,” she said. – Bernama, May 6, 2022.