The House Of Representatives' Quick Response Responds To Calls For Legalization Of Medical Cannabis, But Patience All Needs Study

Demonstration of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives (DPR) responded quickly to calls for the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, said that his party would immediately take strategic steps to review the discourse on legalizing medical marijuana.

Because, said Dasco, although marijuana can be used for medical treatment in several countries, in Indonesia it is still not regulated in law.

"Later we will try to study whether it is possible for marijuana as a medical drug that can indeed be used," said Dasco at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday, June 26. The DPR, added Dasco, will also coordinate with various parties including the Ministry of Health to discuss the matter with Commission IX of the DPR. "We are trying to coordinate with the technical commission and also the Ministry of Health, so that the DPR can then respond to it," he said.

A day after the response, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad received the arrival of Santi Warastuti, Pika's mother who called for the legalization of medical marijuana at Nusantara III Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, 28 June.

"Today, I have Santi Warastuti, a parent from Pika, who was sick, which went viral yesterday about medical marijuana and accompanied by lawyer Mr. Singgih to hold a judicial review of the Constitutional Court regarding the legalization of medical marijuana," said Sufmi.

Dasco said the leadership of the DPR will immediately coordinate with Commission III of the DPR to follow up on studies related to medical Ganjar. At this time, Commission III is also discussing the revision of the Narcotics Law. "After listening to what was said, we will take steps to encourage the RDP with Commission III, which happens to be discussing the revision of the Narcotics Law," he explained. Dasco ordered the RDP to be carried out as soon as this Sunday, or at the latest before the DPR members' recess begins. "If we have time this week, yes this week, but if not before the recess we ask for an RDP," said Dasco.

Regarding the involvement of the Ministry of Health, Dasco said this would be followed up by the relevant commission.

"It is possible that Commission III of the DPR will coordinate with Commission IX and others," he said.

So how did Commission IX and Commission III of the DPR respond?

Commission IX Considers Reviewing the Benefits of Medical Marijuana

Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Charles Honoris, assessed that Indonesia needed to start a study regarding the medical benefits of marijuana. This is to legitimize the scientific use of Ganjar.

"Indonesia should have started a study on the benefits of the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa) for medical purposes. This objective medical study will become scientific legitimacy, whether a medical marijuana program needs to be carried out in Indonesia," Charles Honoris told reporters, Tuesday, June 28. Charles explained, at the end of 2020 the United Nations Narcotics Commission (CND) had issued marijuana and cannabis resin from Group IV of the Single Convention on Narcotics of 1961. This means that marijuana has been removed from the list of the most dangerous drugs that have no medical benefits.

"On the contrary, this UN decision has motivated many countries to review their country's policies regarding the use of cannabis plants for medical treatment," he explained. Charles said that currently more than 50 countries have medical marijuana programs, including Malaysia and Thailand. Therefore, he assessed, currently research needs to be done even though it is not yet known whether or not there will be a medical marijuana program in Indonesia.

"Whether Indonesia will carry out a medical marijuana program or not, research is mandatory and very important to do so that it becomes the basis for further policy making/regulation," he said. world of health. He hopes that there are no other victims who need medical treatment. "Medical research must continue to develop and be dynamic for humanitarian purposes. In order to save the lives of Pika, and other children with brain inflammation, which the mother believes can be treated with marijuana. The state must not sit idly by and watch other 'Pika-Pika' waiting for their rights to be fulfilled. for his health," he concluded.

Commission III of the House of Representatives Listens to Feedback Before Setting it on the Narcotics Law

Commission III of the DPR does not want to discuss the use of medical marijuana to be regulated in the revision of the Narcotics Law. Commission III of the DPR has just scheduled a hearing (RDP) to listen to the aspirations and input from the public regarding the legalization of the use of marijuana for medical or medicinal purposes.

Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the House of Representatives Desmond J Mahesa said his party would first look at the aspects of the benefits obtained from the legalization of medical marijuana if it is used for treatment in Indonesia.

"We will first see the value of the benefits and the disadvantages, while currently there is a study, it turns out that the value of the benefits for health and the economy is extraordinary, the harm is very small according to information from health," Desmond said when met by VOI, at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday, June 28.

Desmond said that the DPR must know in detail the reasons for foreign countries to free the use of marijuana, especially for medical purposes. After that, he said, Commission III of the DPR will only consider and review the issue discussed in the revision of the Narcotics Law.

"Why in the Netherlands, in Thailand it was released, we are examining it. What is the economic and health potential, now we will discuss these notes during the discussion of the Narcotics Law," explained the Gerindra politician. Regarding how marijuana is used for treatment, Desmond emphasized that Commission III of the House of Representatives will seek input from health experts. Is the use of marijuana harmful to health or are there other benefits? "We ask for input first, there are health experts from Aceh, there are experts from everywhere about it. Later we will formulate whether this is indeed dangerous or not harmful to health," said Desmond.

Including the economic impact. Desmond assessed that if there are benefits from the economic aspect in addition to health, the use of medical marijuana needs to be studied further.

"What's the economic impact? Don't let us hold back something that turns out to be of greater benefit than harm. Now this needs to be studied," he said.

But personally, Desmond admitted that he did not understand the benefits and drawbacks in detail. Therefore, he said, his party needed to receive inputs related to these two aspects. "The plan is to have a report on the possibility that if it is empty Thursday, I will call (the public) to listen. After that, we will first listen to input from the community, then we will invite doctors and various experts to ask for input on changes to the substance," said Desmond.