Cannabis — Malaysia

Cannabis is prohibited in Malaysia and the penalty climbs steeply with weight. Under 20 grams: a fine of up to RM20,000 or up to 5 years in prison, or both. From 20 grams: a mandatory 2 to 5 years plus caning, with no fine option. From 50 grams: up to life imprisonment plus caning. At 200 grams the law presumes you are trafficking, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Two further rules reach travellers who are carrying nothing at all. Section 8 applies the Act's opium provisions to cannabis, so under section 10(2) it is a separate offence, punishable by up to 2 years, simply to frequent a place used for smoking or otherwise consuming cannabis, or to have a pipe or other cannabis utensil. And section 37(d) treats any person found with custody or control of anything whatsoever containing a dangerous drug as being in possession of it, and as having known what it was, until that person proves otherwise, so a bag or parcel you agreed to carry is treated as yours. CBD is a prescription-only poison, no cannabis medicine is registered in Malaysia, and a foreign prescription does not make it lawful to bring in.

Under 20 g: fine up to RM20,000 or up to 5 years, or both (s.6). 20 g to under 50 g: 2 to 5 years plus 3 to 9 strokes of the cane (s.39A(1)). 50 g or more: life or at least 5 years plus at least 10 strokes (s.39A(2)). 200 g or more: presumed trafficking — death or life imprisonment plus at least 12 strokes (ss.37(da), 39B). Consuming: fine up to RM5,000 or up to 2 years, plus 2 to 3 years of supervision. Frequenting a place used for smoking or otherwise consuming cannabis, or possessing a cannabis pipe or utensil: fine up to RM5,000 or up to 2 years, or both (ss.8, 10(2)). Being the owner or occupier of premises that you permit to be used for consuming cannabis, or being concerned in the management of such premises: fine up to RM10,000 or up to 3 years, or both (ss.8, 10(1)). Growing one plant: life plus caning (s.6B).

Verified Sep 15, 2026