Khairy: Ministry of Health aims to register cannabidiol products in 2023

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin delivering his speech at the launch of the Center’s Drug Perceptions Study Report at Common Ground, Menara Worldwide in Kuala Lumpur on July 14, 2022. – Bernama pic

Thursday, July 14, 2022 4:55 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 – The Ministry of Health (MOH) aims to register certain cannabidiol (CBD) products in 2023.

His Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the framework for the registration of CBD products will be obtained this year and the National Medicines Regulatory Agency (NPRA) will evaluate the proposals.

“I anticipate that we can start registering several CBD products next year, but what is important is not the product itself, we need to see the veracity of the product data from a safety point of view. and efficacy against certain diseases.

“Scientific education and exposure (on this issue) should be provided to doctors in Malaysia,” he told reporters after the launch of a report titled “How do Malaysians really feel about the dope?” by The Centre, a think tank co-founded by Khairy that surveyed 500 adults nationwide in April 2022.

He also stressed that the use of CBD would be prescription only, not for personal use and self-medication and would never encompass recreational use.

“When we bring CBD it cannot be sold without a prescription, it has to be on prescription and what is important is that when the product is available doctors know how to provide prescriptions,” he said. he declares.

Khairy said the case will take some time as the department takes a cautious approach and reviews international practices and scientific data on the use of CBD products.

He said the ministry would start by evaluating CBD product registrations, which are open to anyone, followed by clinical trials which encompass human trials conducted by Malaysian researchers on the use of CBD.

The ministry is also in talks with several researchers from Universiti Malaya to conduct clinical trials on the use of CBD on several medical conditions in the country.

“When we have evidence from clinical trials for certain diseases or conditions, that will stimulate the use and supply of CBD by doctors,” he said.

As to whether the approval of the CBD framework will result in the cultivation of cannabis in Malaysia, Khairy said that will not be the case in the near future.

“We will consider cultivation, we are going step by step. We are taking careful steps, starting to register a few products and seeing how well this is being received by doctors and patients. Then if it’s well received, safe and effective, then we can think about cultivating,” he said.

He said many proposals had been sent in to open cannabis farms, but Malaysia had not yet reached that stage. — Bernama