A major push for limited medical cannabis policy reform and industry regulations took place in Malaysia in 2022, and the nation passed a major milestone this week with Malaysia’s Health Ministry announcing that registration for medical cannabis-based products is now open.

“Those who have sufficient scientific evidence supporting the use of cannabis-based products for medical treatment can come forward to submit their product registration, says the Health Ministry.” reported The Star in its local coverage.

“However, they must comply with the relevant laws, the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply dated March 3.” the media outlet also reported.

Malaysia’s cannabis policies are largely governed by the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952, both of which classify cannabis and its derivatives as ‘dangerous drugs.’

Historically, the region that Malaysia is located in is where some of the harshest cannabis laws on earth can be found, and in some ways in Malaysia, can still be found.

Malaysia is one of a handful of countries around the world, most of them located in the same region, that still issues the death penalty for certain cannabis-only offenses. With that in mind, any movement towards permitting medical cannabis is significant.