No Need To Be Like Thailand, Halal Watch Urges The Government Not To Be Lazy About Marijuana For Medical Use

Screenshot of IHW Executive Director Ikhsan Abdullah/Via ANTARA

JAKARTA - Indonesia Halal Watch (IHW) asks the Indonesian government not to be lazy about policies in other countries such as legalizing marijuana which is now in effect in Thailand.

"So we don't need to be talkative about the law, what happened in Thailand that legalized the use of marijuana, it's enough in Thailand. We don't need to be involved," said Executive Director of Indonesia Halal Watch Ikhsan Abdullah in a written statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, Thursday. June 30.

He said Indonesia had grown and lived with its own legal order and religious character in accordance with the philosophy of the state that believes in the One and Only God.

Ikhsan Abdullah, who is also the Deputy Secretary General of the MUI for Law and Human Rights, assessed that Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning narcotics has clearly regulated, namely that marijuana can only be used for health, research, education and technology purposes.

"But its use must still have a recommendation from a doctor. If it is used to treat patients or for people who are sick, they must seek permission from the Ministry of Health," he said.

Therefore, according to him, it is no longer necessary for the DPR to invite the public to study and discuss the use of marijuana for medical purposes. He encouraged the DPR to stick to the applicable laws.

"Because the material for marijuana and the sociological and theological conditions of the Indonesian people remain unchanged, as in Thailand for example. What is not allowed or prohibited is if its use is misused," said Ikhsan Abdullah.

Previously, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, encouraged the use of medical marijuana to be discussed in the revision of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics which is being discussed by Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

"We will take steps to encourage a Hearing Meeting (RDP) with Commission III of the DPR, which happens to be discussing the revision of the Narcotics Law," he said.

This was said by Dasco after receiving an audience with a mother named Santi Warastuti who is struggling to legalize medical marijuana for the treatment of her son Pika who suffers from "celebral palsy".

He explained that the RDP would be implemented as soon as possible, namely this week or at the latest before the House of Representatives (DPR) recess which begins next week.

"If there is an RDP this week, if not, it will be held before the recess," said Dasco.