Earlier this week, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from the most tightly controlled category of narcotic drugs.

The World Health Organization has made this recommendation to make research into cannabis’ medical use easier.

“Cannabis and other cannabis-related items remain controlled under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 where action can be taken against anyone who breaks the law,” said Hamzah in a statement.

The Dangerous Drugs Act carries severe punishments, including the death penalty.

He said the reclassification also did not mean that international controls on cannabis were loosened as they were still governed strictly under Schedule I of the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs, a global text governing drug controls.

Hamzah said Malaysia, as a member to three UN conventions on drugs, including the 1961 Convention, was committed to eradicating drug-related crimes at the domestic and international level.