THE government will take a stand on the use of cannabis for medical purposes before the end of the year, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

Khairy, who concluded a bilateral working visit to Bangkok today, said Thailand had shared a lot of views and experiences during his visit to ascertain the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and its cultivation.

“I am confident that we will be able to study Thailand’s experience and adapt it to the Malaysian context later when we will decide whether to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

“If approved, we will determine in what framework and how it will be used.

“I want to move fast… I am confident that we will be able to take a stand this year. The main decision will be made this year with the policy likely following next year. That is my target,” he said in Bangkok today.

Khairy’s visit was at the invitation of Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to explore the potential health benefits of cannabis.

Thailand is the first southeast Asian country to legalise the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

During his working visit, Khairy and the delegation also visited the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) where he was briefed on Thailand’s cannabis policy including practices, cultivation methods, research and the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

He also held meetings with the main players of the cannabis industry in Thailand, besides visiting Siam Cannabis Land in Pattaya where he was briefed and visited greenhouses and plantations of various types of cannabis.

Khairy explained that the use of cannabis for medical purposes was not new in Malaysia because in 2014, Sativex – containing cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – was approved for use in Malaysia to treat muscle spasms.

However, the product was not well received in the local market so it was deregistered.

“The existing laws and framework allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes,” he said.

Khairy added that the use was becoming more widespread internationally including for palliative care, chronic pain management, insomnia and patients undergoing chemotherapy.

“Malaysia does not want to be left behind. So, we want to see and study its effectiveness and safety,” he said.

He added that Malaysia does not intend to cultivate cannabis.

“If there is a high demand to make it an industry, we will study cultivation. We will take it one step at a time,” he said.

Last month, Khairy said a framework regarding the registration of certain CBD products would be announced.

Earlier today, Khairy visited Thailand’s first psychiatric hospital – Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry – where he was briefed by the director-general of the Department of Mental Health Dr Amporn Benjaponpitak about mental health services in the country.

During the visit, he was shown various innovations that can help improve mental health. – Bernama, August 25, 2022.