INTERVIEW | While much of the world has changed its laws governing the possession and usage of recreational and medical marijuana, Malaysia is still at the stage where government ministers have announced a change in policy, but no changes in law have been enacted.

In neighbouring Thailand, however, the business and medical communities have reacted quickly after the government approved an amendment to the country's narcotics law in December 2018, which saw the use of cannabis for medical purposes no longer considered a criminal offense.

Earlier this month a Malaysiakini journalist visited the Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital in Prachin Buri province, Thailand, to see how it operates.

Located around 150km east of the Thai capital Bangkok, it is the first hospital in Thailand to obtain the approval of the country's Ministry of Public Health to open a medical cannabis clinic for patients...