Aceh Considers Issuing Regulation That Will Legalize Medical Marijuana

TheIndonesia.co - The People's Representative Council of Aceh (DPRA) has revealed that it is considering issuing a regional regulation that will legalize marijuana for medical purposes.

Chair of Commission V of DPRA M Rizal Falevi Kirani said the deliberation on the legalization of medical marijuana appears to be urgent, and the council is to conduct study and discussion soon to eventually issue a regional regulation (locally known as qanun).

“It’s a necessity for Aceh to initiate a study that will result in a regulation. And since the context is Aceh, the regulation will be a qanun,” Kirani said on Wednesday, August 24, as reported by Antara.

He said a regulation issued by the Ministry of Health earlier this year on the use of narcotics for the development of science and technology will be the basis for impending studies carried out by DPRA.

“I believe Aceh possesses comprehensive literatures on cannabis and [produces] quality cannabis. It’s important to do research on this and formulate a regulation,” Kirani explained.

The council member said the opportunity towards a wider use of cannabis must be embraced by Aceh by legalizing the commodity – especially considering not all country can produce cannabis with similar quality.

Therefore, clear mechanism and strict regulation must be in place to ensure the use of marijuana is solely for medical purposes.

“This is also an opportunity for Aceh to increase its regional income because the commodity can be exported,” Kirani stated.

In the coming period, DPRA will invite medical experts and researchers to kick off the discussion.

In July, the Constitutional Court rejected the application for judicial review of Indonesian narcotic law that could see the legalization of medical marijuana in the country.

The judicial review request of Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics was submitted by several mothers whose children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and NGOs in an effort to make medical marijuana, which can be used to treat CP patients, legal.

“[The Constitutional Court] rejects the application in its entirety,” Chief Justice Anwar Usman announced on July 20, as reported by Antara.

Marijuana legalization for medical purposes have become one of the most talked-about issues in Indonesia after one of the judicial review applicants Santi Warastuti publicly demanded the legalization of medical marijuana during a car free day occasion in Jakarta back in June.

The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) also said it will formulate a fatwa on the use of medical marijuana in Indonesia.