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THE HEALTH | MAY-JUNE , 2022
| Column |
High time to legalise medical marijuana in Malaysia ? The use of medical marijuana as an alternative treatment to conventional medicine has been widely accepted in over 40 countries
EMIR-SING
BY JASON LOH
AND ROSIHAN ADDIN
IN 2020 , the 63rd Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs of the United Nations ( UN ) voted to drop cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs ( 1961 ). This “ demotion ” meant that cannabis is no longer considered to be among the ‘ most dangerous drugs ’ category .
When cannabis is used interchangeably with marijuana , it specifically refers to cannabis products made from the dried flowers , leaves , stems and seeds of the cannabis plant . And it is in this context , the medicinal and health use of cannabis is promoted .
However , then Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government would maintain its status on cannabis and related drugs as they harm the community . Not until Nov 29 , 2021 did the issue crop up again when Muar MP Syed Saddiq highlighted and championed the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis / marijuana in Parliament .
Health perspective
The main argument against the legalisation of marijuana lies in its supposedly or ostensible health effects / implications .
But in a country where 90 per cent of lung cancer patients are smokers (“ Lung cancer in Malaysia ”, Journal of Thoracic Oncology , Vol . 15 No . 3:317-323 ), is marijuana really that more harmful ?
A joint collaboration study by University of California San Francisco ( UCSF ) and the University of Alabama found that low to moderate use of marijuana is less harmful to users ’ lungs when compared to exposure to tobacco . It was found that airflow rate inside the lungs increased rather than decreased when smoking tobacco .
The use of medical marijuana as an alternative treatment to conventional medicine has been widely accepted in over 40 countries . A study by the Institute of Public Health , Florida A & M University , saw that medical marijuana is mainly used to treat chronic pain , multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease by providing relief and , subsequently , improving users ’ quality of life without dependency on painkillers .
The positive effects of taking medical marijuana include but are not limited to reducing anxiety , eliminating opioid use , improving sleep , addressing post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ), improving pain management , and stimulating appetite .
Common side effects of marijuana consumption include changes in blood pressure ( both low and high cases have been reported ) and increases in heart rate , dizziness or drowsiness , facial flushing , false sense of well-being stupor , feeling of being “ high ”, ecstasy , laughing , etc . And there are also reports of users suffering from nausea .
Although the usage of marijuana for medical purposes does have its side effects similar to other conventional medicine , when compared to the relief it provides patients with , these would be considered minor .
Economical perspective
Thailand had been notorious for having stringent laws for drug-related offences . However , in 2018 , Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes .
In January 2022 , the country took a step further by delisting cannabis with THC ( tetrahydrocannabinol – a component inside cannabis – and the main psychoactive component that induces the ‘ high ’ feeling ) levels of below 0.2 per cent . Hence , Thailand legalised the recreational use of cannabis within this range .
Thailand which was badly hit by the global pandemic is seeking ways to jumpstart its tourism sector – and the recreational use of marijuana can partly drive this . It is expected that around 27.7 million tourists will come to Thailand for health and wellness . The country ’ s recreational cannabis market has the potential to be worth US $ 424 million by 2024 .
Creating a designated area for recreational use of marijuana could potentially see the birth of a “ New Amsterdam ” in Southeast Asia . Lebanon has also legalised the cultivation , distribution , sale and consumption of cannabis .
The country has one of the world ’ s largest illegal hashish ( drug made by compressing parts of the cannabis plant ) farms . For generations , this thriving illicit industry has been a mainstay in the Lebanese economy .
By legalising and regularising the use of cannabis , the Lebanese government is looking to reap monetary gains from the industry . Lebanon has the potential to become the largest exporter of cannabis , which could bring in an estimated US $ 1 billion . This could help rejuvenate a currently ailing economy suffering from forex shortages and the concomitant of a depressed currency .
Malaysian context
The step forward for Malaysia regarding this issue may not necessarily be to legalise cannabis immediately , but first to decriminalise it under certain conditions .
On March 22 , 2022 , Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul stated that a memorandum on the medical use of kratom and cannabis is to be handed to the Prime Minister for discussions on the legalisation of the substances .
To demand legalisation directly without sufficient domestic clinical trials might be too big a step for the government . As an alternative ,
EMIR Research would like to suggest that the ( conditional ) decriminalisation of cannabis for medicinal purposes should be the first step instead .
Jason Loh Seong Wei and Rosihan Addin are part of the research team of EMIR Research , an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research .
Decriminalisation would mean that cannabis would still be prohibited by law . However , the legal system would no longer prosecute or criminalise a person in possession or use it under certain circumstances .
The decriminalisation of medicinal cannabis would enable Malaysia to tap into a US $ 20.73 billion global market ( Verified Market Research ), which would help to boost the country ’ s revenue post-Covid-19 .
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has already stated that the importation and distribution of cannabis products for medicinal purposes is permissible according to the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 . Specifically , it means that as a matter of requirement , the product must be registered by the Drug Control Authority and that importation and wholesale sales of the product are carried out by licensed importers and sellers , respectively .
The retail sale or supply of the product for the medical treatment of certain patients can only be made by a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Act 1971 to the patient or by a registered pharmacist with a Type A licence to specific individuals based on prescriptions issued by a registered medical practitioner .
However , what is to stop Malaysia from producing and cultivating our cannabis products when we have the resources to do so ? By integrating cannabis farming with the already existing and thriving kratom farms in Kelantan and Kedah , there is potential to uplift the rural economy by giving access to a very lucrative industry .
We need an effective regulatory framework to oversee and manage the production of these produce . In 1996 , California became one of the first states to legalise medical marijuana . It is estimated that between US $ 700 million and US $ 1.3 billion worth of medical cannabis is now being sold yearly , bringing sales taxes of between US $ 58 million and US $ 105 million into the state coffers .
The decriminalisation of medical cannabis now would ensue the creation of a new diversified income stream with scope for our own local industries , especially healthcare , pharmaceutical , and tourism ( medical ) to flourish and thrive . — The Health