KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will soon announce a framework, enabling certain cannabidiol (CBD) products to be registered by next year.
Its minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the framework would be released "sometime this year", adding that the ministry would be inviting proposal submissions of CBD products that should be registered.
"The ministry is committed towards evidence and science, so what it means is that if the science is pointing us in a particular direction, then we can't avoid it.
"The science (of CBD products) to me … I'm convinced. I'm working internally to ensure everyone in the Health Ministry is behind this," he said at the launch of The Centre's report on Malaysians' Views Towards Drug-Related Issues.
Khairy said the CBD products should not be for self-medicating purposes, adding that it would not be available over-the-counter and could only be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
Training and education of medical officers would be required, he added, to ensure they understood the circumstances which allowed the prescription of CBD products.
He said the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) would study the proposals on the products, including evaluating its authenticity, as well as the data on its safety and efficacy of the products for certain illnesses.
"For now, these CBD (products) will only be given under prescription, not for self-use or self-medication and especially not for the recreational use of cannabis. It will be limited to cannabidiol products only.
"It has to be stepwise and calibrated in how we do this.
"I think we are ready. The debate has been useful. Next year is a good target."
He added that it was important for the ministry to undertake a cautious approach, and look into international practices and scientific data on the use of CBD products.
This framework, however, would not include the cultivation of cannabis.
"Many have sent in proposals to open up cannabis fields, we are not there yet.
"We have to first register a few products, and look at the acceptance of doctors and patients, and after that if the acceptance level is high, safe, and effective, then we can think about cultivation," said Khairy.
The minister said the CBD products that would be registered must also undergo human trials and clinical tests, which would be conducted by local universities.
The ministry was also in discussion with several researchers, including from Universiti Malaya to conduct more studies and clinical tests on the use of CBD for certain medical conditions, which could widen the use of CBD products.
"When there is more evidence in terms of clinical tests for certain medical conditions, then it would widen the usage of CBD that can be prescribed by our medical officers."
In April, Khairy had said that the ministry welcomed any industry or academia-initiated research for the medicinal use of CBD.
On Nov 17, last year, the minister had said the applications for the use of cannabis for medical purposes could be submitted to the Drug Control Authority for evaluation and registration if there was sufficient scientific evidence for it to be marketed.