KUANTAN: Cannabis plants can be cultivated for medicinal purposes and research, with the consent from the Minister of Health.
National Anti-Drugs Agency director-general director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Abdullah said there was a provision in the law that allows for the planting of cannabis with specific conditions or permission.
"Recently, I read in the press about the success of Malaysians residing overseas in producing cannabis oil. I wonder if this can also be replicated here, in Malaysia.
"If we look at the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, cannabis plants can be cultivated for medicinal purposes ... thus the importance of getting approval of the Health Minister first," he added.
Zulkifli was speaking at a press conference after the AADK Pahang appreciation ceremony with smart and strategic partners here last night.
The success story of three Malaysians - who have been living in the United Kingdom for 15 years - in producing CBD (Cannabidiol) Oil from Cannabg Pahang AADK's appreciation ceremony with smart and strategic partners is Sativa received local media attention in June last year.
The Malaysians, comprising a couple Abdul Halim Pauzi and Nurul Ain Sahbudin, and their friend, Mohd Roslan Abdullah, have not only studied the effectiveness of cannabis oil in medicine, but has also acquired a licence to market the product to 50 other countries in the European Union.
Zulkifli said if the cannabis plants were able to provide medicinal values, something needs to be done to ensure they are properly cultivated and in accordance with the provisions of the law.
"These plants cannot be cultivated scattered over, because they are drugs. Therefore, we need to have control over it. Some countries have already had such activities. Perhaps one day, when Malaysia has it, we can be an exporter but a legal one.
"That's why it's vital that if the cannabis is really a drug, the Health Ministry has to verify it, because they have the authority to do so," he said.
In the meantime, he said parents or caretakers of children with drug-related problems might have to attend compulsory counseling sessions under the new law that will be drafted to address early stage drug problems.
"Through the counseling sessions, we can identify the problems associated with it, and then try to solve them in a consistent manner, because we believe that prevention begins at home. We do not want parents to take their hands off problems faced by their children, "he added.