PM Set To Receive Memo On Medicinal Marijuana And Ketum
Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin is rallying support for ketum to be allowed for export.
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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is expected to receive a memorandum on the use of cannabis and ketum for medicinal purposes next week.
According to Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, the move is necessary in order to allow for the plants to be exported.
He said that international drug agencies from the United States and Germany are in the process of patenting ketum as a medicinal plant and Malaysia will stand to lose out if it is slow in doing the same.
“If we are slow to patent it, then our country which grows ketum will have to pay high fees to export it abroad, even if they (other countries) do not grow it,” Zahidi was quoted as saying by Bernama.
He said that the memorandum, titled “Sustainable Future of Medical Cannabis, Industrial Hemp and Kratom (Ketum) Industry”, would also be submitted to the Home and Health ministries.
Zahidi also pledges to get support from all menteris besar and chief ministers as well as support from parliamentarians to amend the Poisons Act 1952.
“We will meet every Menteri Besar (and Chief Minister) and submit medical journals from universities, such as the University of Thailand, which reports on the benefits of ketum for the nerves; and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), which has also done studies,” he said.
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