KOTA BARU: People in Kelantan have been cautioned against bringing bottled cannabis water from Thailand into the country.
Cannabis products and drinks have gained popularity in Thailand following the removal of the substance from the kingdom's narcotics list, but it is still banned in Malaysia.
State Customs director Mohd Nasir Deraman said it is an offence to bring cannabis water into Malaysia and the department will arrest people who are caught doing so.
"Many locals are not aware that cannabis is still a banned substance in Malaysia even though Thailand has removed it from its narcotics list.
"Customs officers manning a checkpoint in the state detained a motorist recently for bringing bottled cannabis water into the country," he told the New Straits Times.
It is learnt that the case occurred at the Rantau Panjang border checkpoint last month and it was the first such case detected by Kelantan enforcement agencies.
Bottled cannabis water is widely sold and easily available in the southern provinces in Thailand.
Flavoured cannabis drinks can be found at 7-11 stores, malls, convenience stores and vending machines in Thailand from 30 baht.
But the selling and serving of marijuana-based food and drinks in Thailand must abide by regulations.
The edibles must contain less than 0.2 per cent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by weight.
Cannabis and hemp extracts with a higher percentage of THC remain illegal.
Thailand is one of the first countries in Asia to remove cannabis from its narcotics list and allow people to grow the plant at home.
From June 9, Thailand removed certain parts and extracts of the cannabis plant, except flowers and inflorescences, from the list of Category 5 controlled narcotics under the Narcotics Act 1979 so that it can be used for medical purposes.
But the recreational use of marijuana, also known as ganja, is still banned.