KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 — 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.
“Drugs are available here in Malaysia but we cannot legalise them even though they are less potent drugs because of the social impact.
“You know, because they (US) are liberal, they legalise the use of drugs especially the lighter, potent ones, then it becomes an addiction problem.
“Look at US as an example… now that they cannot control drugs, they are thinking about legalising more and more drugs, but it doesn’t solve the problem,” he added.
Nur Jazlan was commenting on a Selangor Youth Parliament representative’s suggestion last week that Putrajaya should consider regulating the use of marijuana here instead of criminalising it entirely.
Muhamad Ridhwan Muhamad Rosli, who heads the Youth Parliament’s spirituality and religious committee, claimed that many youths have suggested this to him, especially as Malaysia recently ratified the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement along with 11 other nations, some of which legalise the use of the drug.
He went on to explain that many youths here do not even see marijuana, also known as weed or ganja, as a drug.
Muhamad Ridhwan quickly stressed, however, that he was not advocating the call to legalise the drug, but only wanted the authorities regulate its usage.
He also claimed that statistics have shown that only 8 per cent of drug users are addicted to marijuana, while 60 per cent are hooked on morphine and heroine, and the remaining 30 per cent are on methamphetamines.
The youth leader did not specify where the data was from.
- TheMalaymailOnline-
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