Malaysia Interested in Learning from Thailand’s Cannabis Legalization
Recently, representatives from Malaysia’s Ministry of Health announced to the press that at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting next week, they plan to discuss cooperation with their Thai counterparts regarding the organization and implementation of potential reforms aimed at legalizing and regulating the therapeutic cannabis market. Representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Health have already confirmed their interest in such a project, as well as the possibility of expanding it to other countries in the region.
It’s worth noting that Thailand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to formally legalize the use and production of therapeutic cannabis. The relevant reforms were adopted by the Thai government back in 2018, and in early June of this year, Thailand went even further by decriminalizing the use, possession, and local, non-commercial production of cannabis. The authorities supported this initiative for several reasons, including the fact that cannabis has long been a traditional medicine in the region. Another significant factor was the prevalence of the illegal cannabis business, which the government aimed to undermine by partially legalizing the industry and taking away a major source of income from the black market.
“We are impressed by Thailand’s success in this area, and we hope to learn from our colleagues in order to develop our own legal market system,” said representatives from Malaysia’s Ministry of Health.
Currently, Malaysian law strictly punishes the possession and use of cannabis. Cultivation and possession of large quantities (over 200 grams of finished product, according to local laws) can even result in the death penalty, with no right to appeal. Despite these harsh laws, several years ago the government passed a law allowing the use of therapeutic cannabis—specifically, professionally produced plant extracts—with permission from the Ministry of Health. However, this system cannot keep up with the number of requests from the public, which is likely one of the factors prompting the authorities to consider reforming and expanding the market framework.