It's virtually impossible to produce up-to-date scientific evidence of ganja's benefits.

Malaysian proponents of marijuana legalisation will have a tough time persuading the government to consider the plant’s benefits because it’s next to impossible to legally produce up-to-date scientific results on the matter.

According to Arif Husaini Abdul Rahim, a medical officer at Sarawak General Hospital, one of the biggest obstacles to studying the effects of marijuana in Malaysia is obtaining samples for research.

“We can’t study the chemicals in the plant if we have no legal means of obtaining it; hence we rely on countries that have legalised it to pursue the field,” said Arif in a recent interview with the Malaysian Digest.

There’s a political showdown brewing in Malaysia, and cannabis is at the center of it all.

This week, Dr. Nadiah Norudin, a leading member of the healthcare activist group I-Medik, spoke out against a proposal to decriminalize marijuana in Malaysia.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said that while certain states in the US have legalised some drugs, they are struggling to manage the many drug abuse issues that have occurred as a result of the legalisation. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa 

KUALA LUMPUR — Legalising the use of marijuana will only worsen drug abuse in Malaysia, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said today, rubbishing the suggestion from a Youth Parliament representative who made the call recently.

Pointing to the United States (US) as an example, Nur Jazlan said that while certain states in the US have legalised some drugs, they are struggling to manage the many drug abuse issues that have occurred as a result of the legalisation.

PETALING JAYA, Dec 11 — The National Anti-Drugs Agency is not prepared to handle the possible trend of ganja abuse through vape. 

Its director, Datuk Suhaimi Abdullah, admitted yesterday more research had to be done to determine if consuming ganja through e-liquid posed a bigger health threat compared to conventional means.

To do this, he said, it must first be able to detect the target group through urine tests. 

“Currently, we are unaware if ganja consumed through vapes will cause someone to fail a urine drug test, hence the need for more research and information,” he said.

Suhaimi said the agency was not able to clamp down on errant vape users as vaping was beyond its jurisdiction. 

KUALA LUMPUR: A syndicate selling vape liquid laced with ganja juice for RM80 per 15ml bottle has been smashed by police.

Seven people, including two couples and an engineering student, were nabbed after police raided the gang’s lairs in Banting, Ampang and Kelana Jaya.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the syndicate sold the vape liquids after mixing them with ganja from their mini drug laboratory in Bandar Mahkota, Banting.

“This syndicate liquefies the ganja and adds a few drops of the drugs into the vape juice.

“They take orders online and deliver to customers by courier,” he told a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday.

Cannabis is being liquefied and mixed with vape liquids to be sold through cash-on-delivery terms and through postage, police said today.

Cannabis was being liquefied by chemists to be sold as vape liquids, said Datuk Seri Mohd Mokthar Mohd Sharrif, director of the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department.

“They only need two to three drops of liquefied cannabis added to the vape liquid to be sold in 15ml bottles at RM80 each,” he told a press conference at the federal police headquarters.

He said police recently busted a syndicate in Banting, Ampang and Kelana Jaya under the Section 39 (b) Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Last month, close to 1000 advocates, service providers, community leaders, researchers and government representatives met in Kuala Lumpur for the 24th International Harm Reduction conference. This year, the conference took place in Asia to inspire the region to consider drug policies that offer alternatives to the failed goal of Drug Free Asia by 2015 set by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Police have yet to receive complaints of cannabis being used in vape liquids, reported Sinar Harian.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said those found doing so would be charged under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

"If they (vapers) are found to be taking or ingesting drugs, appropriate legal action will be taken against them," he told reporters.

On Tuesday, the daily reported that some popular vape liquids were found to contain two types of cannabidiol, which are natural molecules found in cannabis.

The test by Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin's East Coast Environment Research Institute also found traces of dronabinol, a synthetic substance found in marijuana.

The Cambodian police showed off their latest haul earlier this week as they paraded around 1.5 tonnes of marijuana that had an estimated street value of nearly $7m.

Rightly pleased with themselves, this was another victory for the police force who are currently ploughing resources into an ongoing operation to crackdown and eradicate the drugs trade in the country.

General Khieu Samon, the head of the interior ministry’s anti-drug office, said that the haul had been seized in Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh and that a number of Cambodian nations had been arrested.