KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman will abide by the decision of the government on the growing of hemp and ketum for medical purposes, says Comm Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.

       The Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director said the government has to take a number of aspects into account, including amending certain laws, before deciding.

       "The government has to conduct an in-depth study and consider the views of experts.

       "I was told that laws such as the Poisons Act have to be relooked while the issue of land (under the purview of state governments) should also be addressed.

       "In short, it is still a long process before a final decision can be made," he told a press conference at Bukit Aman on Monday (April 25).

       Another aspect is the cost of rehabilitating addicts, he added.

       "We have about 130,000 addicts nationwide and 25% of them or 36,000 are in rehabilitation centres.

       "The cost of food for each one is RM45 per day," he said, adding that the total cost of feeding everyone housed in rehabilitation centres for a year was more than RM500mil.

       "However, ketum addicts are sent to privately-run rehabilitation centres, so who is going to cover the cost? That is one thing that has to be considered," he said.

       "(A decision) is still a long way off but we will comply with the government's decision once it is made," he said.

       On Sunday (April 24), Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said a discussion on allowing the growing of hemp and ketum for medical purposes will be conducted with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       He stressed that this was not blanket approval to consume ketum water, but for its use to be considered for medical purposes.

       "The public must not get confused,” he said.

       Zahidi added that the demand for hemp and ketum was very high on the international market.

       On April 12, the Medical Cannabis Caucus (MCC) said it held a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss policy issues related to the hemp industry, medical cannabis and ketum for use in Malaysia.

       It added that the Prime Minister had given a positive response to the issues raised, and the matter would be dealt with in further detail at Cabinet meetings.