KUALA LUMPUR: Police have shot down a proposal to decriminalise ganja use in the country.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters today that many young Malaysians found abusing stronger drugs had started with using ganja, which serves as a “gateway drug.”
However, when asked about the possibility of ganja usage for medicinal purposes, Khalid said should the drug be found to have medicinal properties, it must be strictly controlled.
He also used morphine as an example of a dangerous drug that is used as medicine, but can only be dispensed with a doctor's prescription.
Selangor Youth Parliament representative Muhamad Ridhwan Muhamad Rosli recently urged the government to consider regulating the use of marijuana. Ridhwan said he was expressing the opinion of the youths at the grassroots level, some of whom do not consider marijuana a drug, adding that the United States and Australia, which are part of the Trans Pacific Partnership, have already legalised its usage.
The idea was also rejected last week by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, who said there was no need for the government to consider allowing the use marijuana, or ganja, in the country at the moment
He said although some countries allow the use of marijuana but the issue needs to be viewed from the perspective of the country and whether there is a need for it.
He had maintained that drugs can destroy lives and create problems for society.