LETTERS: Recently, Thailand's new government has been moving to pass new legislation banning cannabis for recreational use by the end of this year, less than two years after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalise the drug.
Recreational use of cannabis has been found to damage brain development and lead to depression and suicide. About 40 per cent of young Thais who are addicted to heroin started with cannabis.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is seeking to reverse the country's landmark cannabis policy by reclassifying the plant as a narcotic and limiting its use to medical and health purposes.
The Thai Health Ministry plans to brand cannabis as a "Category 5" narcotic again, which will make it a crime to possess and consume the herb. The chaotic situation in Thailand on this issue is a strong reminder to us.
Consider a Thai media report that said the government expenditure on mental health treatment costs has soared since marijuana was legalised, from 3.2 billion baht to 20 billion baht.
Thus, we must never treat cannabis or any drug lightly. The use of any drug must be strictly regulated.
In recent years, there have been talks about following in the footsteps of Thailand to allow the recreational use of cannabis and the commercialisation of the plant in our country. Considering the latest developments in Thailand, such plans must be aborted.
We must never jeopardise the health and safety of our society over the issue of drugs. Though some types of drugs might be useful and beneficial for medical purposes, they must never be allowed to be used for recreation or be commercialised.
The laws in our country that heavily regulate the use of cannabis and other drugs need to be maintained.
A product containing cannabis that is used for human medicinal purposes can be imported and consumed in Malaysia if that product complies with the requirements of the law.
According to the Health Ministry (MOH), cannabis-containing products should be registered with the Drug Control Authority (DCA) as prescribed by the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation 1984 under the Sale of Drugs Act.
The importation of the product should be carried out by importers who have a licence and import permit under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulation, the Poisons Act as well as the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Similarly, the wholesale trading of products containing cannabis must be carried out by dealers who have a licence under the same regulations and Acts.
The sale or retail supply of products containing cannabis for medical treatment of a patient should be performed by a registered medical practitioner under the Medical Act 1971.
The law on the cultivation of plants can be found in Sections 6B (1) and 6B (2) of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which permits the cultivation of drug-related plants, but under strict conditions in order to prevent any abuse.
As such, we should maintain the existing laws, keeping in mind what has transpired in Thailand.
DR MUZAFFAR SYAH MALLOW
Associate Professor
Faculty of Syariah and Law
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times