KUCHING: Members of the general public have expressed agreement on the use of cannabidiol (CBD) products that would be beneficial for health.
The CBD is one of more than 100 chemical compounds that are found in the cannabis plant. However, it is not psychoactive.
Studies have shown that CBD products can be used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, inflammation, migraines, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, depression, and anxiety among others.
On July 14, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the Ministry of Health (MOH) would soon announce a framework to enable certain developed therapeutic cannabidiol (CBD) products to be registered by 2023.
He said that the use of CBD would be on prescription only, not for personal and self-medicating use and would never encompass recreational use.
New Sarawak Tribune managed to get public opinion on the matter.
SAMSOL BIN MORSHIDI BUJANG, 42
Assistant Director of Social Science Unit, Sarawak State Education Department
“In my opinion, the use of Cannabidiol for treatment is highly recommended. However, MOH should be careful with its offerings, especially in private clinics or pharmacies. Controls over the use of this drug need to be tightened if it is to be implemented. Specific rules for Cannabidiol need to be gazetted to prevent it from being misused as is the case with codeine-type cough medicine. The Poisons Act 1952 is no longer suitable for plant-based drugs such as cannabis and ‘ketum’, instead a specific law needs to be gazetted to prevent it from being misused later.”
AMIRMUSA RADIN MOHD ALWIE, 26, ENTREPRENEUR
“As far as I know, cannabidiol is more of a medicine to be used in emergencies. So it is only for use or with monitoring of a doctor or specialist and not for personal use. As our minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said, this medicine is still being studied for validity and safety. For me as long as drugs like CBD can be controlled and for medicine, they can be considered.”
AMIRUL SHAZLIE YUSUF, 34, CIVIL SERVANT
“In my opinion, if Cannabidiol is only used to treat certain diseases, it is not wrong to use it at all. If used in the right dosage, it would be beneficial but there is a need to monitor and control its usage to avoid addiction or side effects. This medicine is not for everyone.”
AZREEN KERIA,30, MEDIA PRACTITIONER
“I agree that it is used for medication. However, I disagree if this product is sold in pharmacies or can be easily obtained even though it has been emphasised that it is not for sale in pharmacies. We will need to see whether there is penetration of the product in the market.”
