Khairy: There is no proposal to make ketum plants a controlled substance under the Bill.
KUALA LUMPUR: Patients seeking alternative medical treatment may be able to use cannabis-based products by 2023 once the government comes up with a new framework to register cannabidiol (CBD) products by the end of the year, says the Health Minister.
Khairy Jamaluddin said the new committee on developing the cannabis and ketum industry for medical purposes, which he chairs, was set to hold its first meeting on Monday.
“For ketum, we are still looking at the evidence. But for cannabis, there is a huge possibility that we will come up with a framework for the registration of CBD-based products by the end of the year.
“So, the registration (of CBD products) can be considered and used by certain patients by next year,” he said during his speech on the amendments on the Poisons Act 2022 yesterday.
Khairy also said there was no proposal to make ketum plants a controlled substance under the Bill.
“However, the psychoactive alkoloid compound derived from the ketum plant is listed as a controlled substance,” he said.
Once sufficient evidence is gathered on ketum, a framework will be drafted to allow its use for medical purposes.
Khairy said the Cabinet committee on developing the cannabis and ketum industry was now studying all medical evidence to ascertain their medical benefits.
“After this committee obtains views from experts on whether ketum and cannabis are safe to be used for medical purposes, we will release the framework for registration for such products,” he added.
Earlier, the amendments to the Poisons Act 2022 tabled by Khairy seek to beef up regulations on the sale of medicine by pharmacists and registered premises.
Among other amendments that will be introduced in the Poisons Act is a provision that increases penalties for offences relating to the sale, possession and use of psychotropic products to a fine of RM100,000 from RM10,000, or imprisonment of five years, or both.
The amendments will also allow pharmacists the option to register sales of prescribed medication through a written logbook or electronically.
Other proposed amendments also include a provision that allows enforcement officers the power to check premises and confiscate any materials or articles that are against the Poisons Act.
Separately, Khairy said a total of 30,311 notices for offences related to smoking in public places were issued from January to June this year.
“Congratulations to the KKMPutrajaya Inspectorate and Legal Unit enforcement personnel. Insya’Allah, enforcement will be ramped up from July-December! #GEG #NoSmoking,” he tweeted.
The notices were issued under Section 32B of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations (PPKHT) 2004.
In the same post, he said 15,163 notices for smoking in public places were issued to offenders last year.
