House Of Representatives Commission III: People Need To Understand Medical Marijuana Discourse And The Law

Taufik Basari/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Member of Commission III of the DPR Taufik Basari asked the public to understand the discourse on narcotics types of marijuana based on the law, especially for medical purposes with standard treatment. "People need to know that legally and based on the Narcotics Law, narcotics are actually drugs. , if it is not used with the right standard of treatment, then narcotics groups are regulated," said Taufik Basari to reporters, Monday, July 4. Taufik explained about the category of narcotics. Group I, are narcotics that can only be used for the purpose of developing science and are not used in therapy, and have a very high potential to cause dependence. development of science and has a high potential to cause dependence. Meanwhile, group III is narcotics with medicinal properties and is widely used in therapy and/or for the purpose of developing science and has a mild potential to cause dependence." Based on the Minister of Health Regulation (Permenkes) which is an attachment to the Law "From the first until the last one in 2021, marijuana and all its derivative products were placed as class 1 narcotics which can only be used for research and cannot be used for health therapy," said Taufik.

The NasDem politician said that patients like the child of Santi Warastuti's mother named Pika who suffers from cerebral palsy cannot use marijuana for treatment. Even in the case of Fidelis Arie, who gave marijuana for his wife's treatment, it had to end in legal proceedings.

"The incidents experienced by Ibu Santi and Ibu Dwi Pertiwi who fought for the treatment of their children and Fidelis who helped treat his wife and had to face the law are humanitarian problems that must be resolved," said the man who is familiarly called Taubas.

Therefore, Taubas asked all parties not to hold a conservative view in formulating narcotics policies. If there is research showing that derivatives of the cannabis plant can be used as treatment, he said, then all parties must have an open mind to formulate policy changes.

"So far, when someone raises the issue of marijuana for medical needs, they are often immediately stigmatized and given various kinds of accusations," he explained.

Taubas hopes that all parties can also support the research conducted by the Ministry of Health to study this matter.

"Research does not have to be carried out from the beginning because previously there have been studies from various countries including from the expert committee under the United Nations which can be used as a reference for further research," he said.

Taubas added that currently, Commission III of the DPR is discussing the revision of the Narcotics Law. All information, whether in the form of expert research or information from the public, such as from Santi's mother and Dwi's mother, he said, will be used as input for the revision of the Narcotics Law.

He also hopes that the revision of the Narcotics Law can change the paradigm of narcotics policy so far which has always placed the narcotics issue as a matter of law and law enforcement alone.

"In fact, what must be prioritized is the handling of health policies. The law is used for those who use narcotics for crime, while the health approach is used for benefit and humanity as well as saving the nation's children who are victims of narcotics abuse," said Taubas.