South Korea has become the first East Asian country to legalise medical marijuana, while Malaysia and Thailand are still mulling over legalising medical weed.
Financial Times reported that the surprising move was in efforts to widen treatment options for patients, especially ones diagnosed with epilepsy and other rare diseases.
Source: Smithsonian
According to the report, South Korea’s national assembly has approved to amend the Act on the Management of Narcotic Drugs on Friday (23 November 2018). They have allowed the use of “non-hallucinogenic doses” of medical cannabis to treat patients who really need it.
That said, medical cannabis is strictly controlled as the patients will need to apply to the Korea Orphan Drug Centre to use medical marijuana after receiving a doctor’s prescription.
FYI, the Korea Orphan Drug Centre is a government organisation which allows patients to have access to rare medicines.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the access to medical marijuana will be granted on a “case-by-case basis”.
Source: Kuar
Prior to this, South Korea forbade their people from taking marijuana in Canada when weed was first legalised in the western country. They also have one of the toughest rules on marijuana intake as their citizens could risk getting prosecuted for taking weed in a different country.
On the other hand, South Korea’s anti-drug laws decreed that smoking and trading marijuana are still illegal and those found guilty of committing the act could face up to five years in prison. Yikes!
Source: Nextshark
Looks like this is good news since medical marijuana has proven its benefits in the past! Do you think Malaysia should follow in South Korea’s footsteps and legalise medical marijuana too? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Also read: Nurul Izzah: We’re Working on A Proposed Law to Decriminalise Medical Marijuana
