FOLLOWING a deputy minister’s call for the Government to allow the use of cannabis (ganja) and ketum for medical purposes, a DAP leader joined the chorus to support it.
“The use of cannabis, hemp and ketum for medical purposes will definitely transform and propel Malaysia’s medical industry further, especially when it comes to treating cancer.
“And I support the measure so that we can use them to facilitate our modern medicine,” Lim Lip Eng said in a statement.
Two days ago, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin and several other MPs urged the Health Ministry (MOH) and Home Ministry to allow local researchers to study on how cannabis, hemp and ketum can be used to help modern medicine.
“We are trying to submit the necessary reports to the ministries involved. There are NGOs which are urging us to consider the use of the said substances,” Free Malaysia Today reported him as saying.
Touching on the matter, Lim said that many countries have allowed the use of cannabis and hemp for medical purposes, in addition for recreational use.
“In the UK, reports have surfaced that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) types of cannabis are effective in stunting the growth of cancer cells.
“Plus, cannabis is now being used in Canada and Uruguay to treat other medical issues too such as autism, depression, epilepsy and chronic nerve problems,” the Kepong lawmaker added.
Multi-billion-dollar industry
In terms of economy, Lim said that Prohibition Partners, a UK based economics intelligence unit, have projected that the cannabis for medical purposes industry is worth US$5.8 bil.
If the Government was serious in rejuvenating the economy, he stated, then the administration should come up with appropriate policies and legislation to allow the cannabis industry to flourish.
“No doubt Malaysia can become one of the main players in the use of cannabis for medical purposes and compete with our neighbours like Thailand, which has already embarked on the measure.
“South Korea and Japan have also passed the necessary laws to facilitate the process. As for ketum, it has been used by our traditional healers for generations to treat diabetes and high blood pressure,” Lim remarked. – Dec 18, 2021
