Malaysian Cannabis Doctor Facing Death Penalty to Receive Review

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he Malaysian Prime Minister is recommending a local doctor, who currently is facing the death penalty for selling cannabis, to have his case reviewed.

Muhammad Lukman Mohamad was convicted of drug trafficking, having three liters of cannabis oil as well as almost 300 grams of cannabis and 1.4 kg of a THC-containing substance in his home.  Also known as “Dr. Ganja,” the former armed forces captain has treated over 800 patients with cannabis, including patients diagnosed with cancer, epilepsy or autism.

Muhammad Lukman was sentenced to death by hanging Aug. 30 and has since filed an appeal. According to Farhan Maaruf, his lawyer, he testified in court that he had sold cannabis oil to help patients suffering from illness such as cancer and leukemia. His lawyer had also argued that the evidence had not been examined to see if it all contained the psychoactive ingredients THC, which meant that the charges were inaccurate if any of it did not contain THC.

When asked about the case by journalists in a video, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad told them on Sept. 18 that the case should be reviewed. “No, I think we should review that,” Mahathir was quoted by Reuters. “From the reports, it looks to be a miscarriage of justice,” said Parliament of Malaysia member Nurul Izzah Anwar.

In Malaysia, drug trafficking is a mandatory death penalty, with those who are caught carrying 200 grams of cannabis are considered to be trafficking drugs. Anyone found with 50 grams or less could be imprisoned for up to ten years. The severe punishment for trafficking was introduced to combat a rapidly growing drug trade in the area. The first tourists that were executed under the law were hung in 1986. Earlier this year, an Australian mother and grandmother was sentenced to the death penalty after being found with 1.5 kilograms of crystal meth in the bag she was carrying, even though she argued she had no idea that the drugs were in there.

A petition has been created by the Malaysia Awareness Society, a group advocating for the release of Muhammad Lukman as well as the government allows citizens registered with the advocacy group gain legal access to cannabis as a treatment for their conditions. The Change.org petition has 59,435 signatures as of Thursday afternoon. The group has also organized a candlelight vigil on Sept. 21, also celebrated as the International Day of Peace.