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KUALA LUMPUR – Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has once again urged the government to review existing laws that criminalise medical marijuana after nasyid singer Yasin Sulaiman was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) by the magistrates’ court on a cannabis-related charge yesterday.
In a statement, the Muda president said it is crucial that Malaysia expedite this process so as not to be left behind by other countries, including neighbours in the region.
He also noted that the data and science on the use of medical cannabis is very clear and has even been recognised by the World Health Organisation, adding that Yasin’s case should serve as a clear signal for the government to assist more patients requiring such treatment.
“More than 40 advanced nations have enacted laws to legalise medical marijuana. Thailand has done so through the Narcotics Act 1979, where it removed cannabis from the controlled narcotics list, and is the first country to allow the public to use ganja.
“In fact, over 7,488 cases related to marijuana in the Thai court have been dropped. Today, Indonesia has also begun public discussions on efforts to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes.
“Former chief justice Tun Zaki Azmi and Senator Datuk Ras Adiba have also urged the government to take serious measures to allow patients to legally use medical marijuana. I believe Malaysia must not get left behind,” he said.
Syed Saddiq has been consistently pushing for the legalisation of medical marijuana over the years.
Yesterday, Petaling Jaya magistrate Muhammad Iskandar Zainol had awarded Yasin a DNAA following the prosecution’s decision to withdraw its drug trafficking charge against the celebrity, which carries the death penalty.
Selangor prosecution director Khairul Azreem Mamat instead applied for Yasin, 47, to be charged with two new charges.
Lawyers Ariff Azami Hussein, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, and Azizul Syariman Mat Yusoff, who represented the singer, did not object to the application.
The singer pleaded not guilty to the new charges. – The Vibes, July 7, 2022
