Malaysia: death penalty for free cannabis oil

Malaysia isn't really one of the potential tourist destinations if you want to discover local cannabis flavors. But even for locals, Malaysian law is still very harsh.

The August 30, Muhammad Lukman Bin Mohamad, was sentenced to death for distributing’cannabis oil to patients who needed it. In 2015, authorities discovered 3 liters of cannabis oil and 279 grams of cannabis at his home. After a three-year wait, he was found guilty of violating the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1952, the Malaysian law governing hazardous substances.

In particular, it stipulates that «No one may, on their own behalf or on behalf of another person, [be involved in] trafficking in a dangerous drug. Any person […] found guilty of violating this law shall be convicted and sentenced to death.»

Lukman and his attorney plan to appeal the decision. His attorney argues, in particular, that his client’s actions in no way constitute drug trafficking. In fact, he was not distributing recreational drugs, but rather providing treatment to patients who would not have had access to it otherwise.

Furthermore, Lukman made no profit from his activities. In particular, he worked with the Malaysian Awareness Society, an organization that educates the public about the potential of medical cannabis—a topic that is, incidentally, gaining increasing attention from the global medical community.

The prosecutor noted, however, that Malaysian law does not permit the medical use of cannabis under any circumstances.