Malaysia in talks to become first in Asia to legalise medical marijuana

Canada has taken the lead in developing the medical pot sector, creating a cannabis industry worth more than $60 billion ahead of legalizing cannabis use next month

Public outrage over a death penalty handed to a 29-year-old man is spurring Malaysia to start talks to legalize marijuana for medical use, racing to become the first Asian country to do so.

The cabinet “very briefly” discussed the medicinal value of marijuana in a meeting last week and have started early and informal talks on amending the relevant laws, Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources Xavier Jayakumar said in an interview on Tuesday in Putrajaya, the country’s government center.

For now, the focus is on overturning a death sentence handed last month to a man convicted of possessing,