Many more beneficial plants can be grown instead of cannabis: Exco member
Published on: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
By: Bernama
SHAH ALAM: There were many more beneficial plants that could be cultivated instead of cannabis (ganja) for medical purpose, said state Young Generation, Sports and Human Capital Development Committee chairman, Mohd Khairuddin Othman.
He said although Dr Idris Ahmad (PKR-Ijok) mentioned that drugs were used in the medical sector a long time ago, they were now misused.
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“What more with teenagers in Malaysia becoming too creative, where you give them firecrackers to let off fireworks during festivals, they make firebombs. On the matter, Ijok (Dr Idris) did say that drugs were previously used in the medical sector but these days they are being abused.
“I wish to tell the Yang Berhormat (Honourable Member) that he is not living in the previous era. It’s better for youths in this state to grow useful crops like chilli than cannabis,” he said when winding up the debate in the State Legislative Assembly.
He added that although cannabis had certain benefits in the medical sphere, all parties needed to be clear and understand that there were laws prohibiting anyone from cultivating cannabis.
“Section 6B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 clearly states that any one found cultivating cannabis or plants that can produce raw opium can be subjected to life imprisonment and a minimum of six strokes of the cane. This is the law,” he said.
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Mohd Khairuddin (PKR-Paya Jaras) said that was why the state government was committed to ensuring youngsters in Selangor were not involved in drug abuse, and instead had implemented various programmes to tackle the problem of drug abuse.
He said that among the programmes being carried out by the state government were holding discussions and reviewing the drug problem with the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) to come up with the reward-and-report programme.
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“Up to 2017, Selangor recorded 2,305 drug addicts, which was still under control. We want to keep the situation under control and do not want any elements which may expose our youngsters to drugs,” he said.
Last Wednesday, Mohd Shaid Rosli (PKR-Jeram), while debating on the address by the Sultan of Selangor at the sitting, suggested that the state government consider the cultivation of cannabis for medical purpose.
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