Nearly 9 in 10 Malaysians Surveyed Support Medical Cannabis Based on Clinical Evidence
In a country where cannabis is strictly prohibited, 88.4% of surveyed Malaysian adults supported medical marijuana decriminalization based on clinical evidence.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 2,047 respondents, 88.4% supported medical marijuana decriminalization. Key predictors included male gender (OR 1.71), higher education (Master's/PhD OR 2.04), self-employment (OR 1.84), and low perceived risk (OR 5.82). Prior drug use (OR 1.86) and smoking (OR 1.58) were also significant predictors.
Key Numbers
2,047 respondents. 88.4% supported medical cannabis. Low perceived risk: OR 5.82. Master's/PhD: OR 2.04. Prior drug use: OR 1.86. Self-employment: OR 1.84. Male gender: OR 1.71. Smoking: OR 1.58.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional web-based survey of Malaysian adults aged 18+ using convenience and snowball sampling. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of acceptance.
Why This Research Matters
Malaysia maintains some of the strictest drug laws globally, including mandatory death penalty provisions. Finding that nearly 9 in 10 respondents support evidence-based medical cannabis suggests a significant gap between public opinion and current policy.
The Bigger Picture
This adds to a global pattern of public opinion outpacing cannabis policy. The finding that education is strongly associated with acceptance suggests that information access may be key to shifting attitudes in restrictive jurisdictions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Online convenience and snowball sampling likely overrepresents educated, internet-connected, and younger Malaysians. The 88.4% support rate may be higher than the general population. Social desirability bias could affect responses on drug-related topics in a strict legal environment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would representative sampling produce similar results?
- ?Could this level of public support influence Malaysian drug policy reform?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 88.4% support in a country where cannabis carries severe penalties
- Evidence Grade:
- Convenience sample limits representativeness. Online surveys tend to skew toward more educated, progressive respondents.
- Study Age:
- 2026 study.
- Original Title:
- Understanding the acceptance of medical marijuana among Malaysian adults: a cross-sectional online survey.
- Published In:
- BMJ open, 16(1), e104802 (2026)
- Authors:
- Rahman, Abu Bakar, Naserrudin, Nurul Athirah, Seman, Zamtira, Zin, Zaikiah Mohd, Dapari, Rahmat, Hassan, Mohd Rohaizat, Rashid, Azman Ab, Dahaban, Mariatul Umeera Muhd, Jahaya, Nadia Hani, Balamurugan, Hema, Krishnan, Manimaran
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08571
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Is cannabis legal in Malaysia?
No. Cannabis is strictly prohibited under Malaysia's Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 with severe penalties. Despite this, the survey found overwhelming support for evidence-based medical use.
What predicted acceptance?
Low perceived risk was the strongest predictor (nearly 6 times the odds), followed by higher education, prior drug use, and male gender.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08571APA
Rahman, Abu Bakar; Naserrudin, Nurul Athirah; Seman, Zamtira; Zin, Zaikiah Mohd; Dapari, Rahmat; Hassan, Mohd Rohaizat; Rashid, Azman Ab; Dahaban, Mariatul Umeera Muhd; Jahaya, Nadia Hani; Balamurugan, Hema; Krishnan, Manimaran. (2026). Understanding the acceptance of medical marijuana among Malaysian adults: a cross-sectional online survey.. BMJ open, 16(1), e104802. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104802
MLA
Rahman, Abu Bakar, et al. "Understanding the acceptance of medical marijuana among Malaysian adults: a cross-sectional online survey.." BMJ open, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-104802
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Understanding the acceptance of medical marijuana among Mala..." RTHC-08571. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rahman-2026-understanding-the-acceptance-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.