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Tag: Malasia

  • Malaysian Health Groups Challenge Legality of Moot Nicotine Exemption

    Malaysian Health Groups Challenge Legality of Moot Nicotine Exemption

    Counsel for several Malaysian public health organizations told the High Court that former health minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa acted unlawfully in 2023 when she removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act list, arguing the move was made without meaningful consultation with the Poisons Board. A lawyer for the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children, said the exemption left vape products effectively unregulated and accessible to minors for nearly 17 months, until the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 took effect in October 2024.

    Government counsel argued the case is now academic because the 2024 law regulates vaping and smoking products, and said the minister acted within powers granted under Section 6 of the Poisons Act after consultation with the board. Opposing attorneys countered that the issue remains live because the court must determine whether the minister erred at the time, adding that consultation must be substantive rather than procedural. The applicants are seeking declarations that the 2023 exemption order was irrational, unlawful, and beyond ministerial authority. The court set May 15 for its decision.

  • Malaysian Dealers Doing Bait-n-Switch on Drug-Laced Vapes

    Malaysian Dealers Doing Bait-n-Switch on Drug-Laced Vapes

    Drug-infused vape liquids marketed as “magic mushroom” products in Malaysia are largely mislabeled and instead contain synthetic drugs such as cannabinoids or MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly), according to police and medical experts. While psilocybin mushrooms are classified as an illegal drug in Malaysia, they are at least naturally occurring. Monash University Malaysia addiction psychiatrist Dr. Anne Yee said most vape users—and even sellers—do not know what is actually contained in the products, commonly called Kpods.

    Police data show that about 65% of vape liquids and devices seized in 2023 tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids or ecstasy, with no confirmed cases involving psilocybin, the hallucinogen found in real magic mushrooms. Authorities say the “magic mushroom” label is a marketing tactic rather than a reflection of the contents. The Narcotics Crime Investigation Department and Malaysia’s National Poison Centre have both confirmed that chemical analyses have found no mushroom-derived hallucinogens in seized samples, but instead detected new psychoactive substances that can cause hallucinatory effects. Experts warn that the unknown composition of these products poses serious health risks, as symptoms can range from dissociation and hallucinations to anxiety, psychosis, and impaired motor control.

    Medical professionals stress that diagnosing affected users is challenging because patients are often unsure what they consumed. Yee said clinicians rely heavily on symptoms and patient accounts, noting that effects beyond nicotine indicate drug-laced products.