Conclusive studies required before government decides on medical cannabis

KUALA LUMPUR - Studies on the the overall implications of the usage of medical cannabis must be conclusive before the government comes to a decision..

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the views of parties involved in the matter were important as it involves the future of the public, primarily the youth.

“In Thailand some urged (implementing) the legalisation of cannabis. There was no consensus.

“Here we must examine it properly. As soon as we legalise it with strong arguments we must be able to control the youth in villages who would abuse the substance.

“We must examine it in its entirety. I have a strong view about it. I ask that we open some space to truly discuss its implications,” he said during the ‘Meet Anwar’ youth dialogue, here on Sunday.

He stated so when answering a question from the attendees regarding his stance on the usage of cannabis in the medical field.

He answered a question brought up by an attendee regarding the waiting period of a graduate to be called for Public Service Commission (PSC) and explained the matter depended on the current availabilities.

“If we say all graduates would work at PSC, that will inflate the number of civil servants.

“The PSC is like any company, if they needed 400 individuals (400 would positions would be filled),” he said.

Anwar explained the total number of civil servants will be increased according to the government’s capabilities to drive the economic development.

“If the economy is driven well, more job opportunities will be added,” he said.