Explanation of Medical Marijuana and IDI's Attitude Regarding its Legality Polemic

Prof. Dr. Zullies Ikawati, Apt, Guru Besar Fakultas Ilmu Farmasi Universitas Gajah Mada (Foto Ist)

JAKARTA - The legality of medical marijuana is being debated. Health experts, as well as policymakers in Indonesia, are discussing this issue.

There are pros and cons to the legality of marijuana for medical use. Some parties consider that there are many inaccurate understandings related to the definition of medical marijuana.

The term medical marijuana is used in much of the scientific literature. According to the website healthdirect.gov.au, medical marijuana is a drug derived from marijuana. Because for medicinal purposes, of course, it must meet the properties of a drug, namely the compound is standardized, the dose is measured and used according to indications in the right way.

What needs to be straightened out about medical marijuana is that it is not the whole plant that can be used for medicine, but only certain active components that have pharmacological/therapeutic activities.

Professor of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Gajah Mada University, Prof. Dr. Zullies Ikawati, Apt said marijuana has several phytochemical components that are pharmacologically active. The main components of marijuana are cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids themselves consist of various components, where the main ones are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is psychoactive, and Cannabidiol (CBD) which has pharmacological activity, but is not psychoactive.

The THC component causes mental effects including intoxication and dependence. While CBD has a pharmacological effect as an anti-seizure. CBD has even been developed into a drug and has been approved by the FDA, for example under the name Epidiolex, which contains 100 mg/mL of CBD in syrup.

"The urgency of medical marijuana in the medical world is not really big, it's more about providing alternative drugs, especially if existing drugs don't give the desired effect. However, to declare other drugs ineffective, of course, there are procedures, by conducting accurate examinations ", said Prof Zullies in a release received by VOI.

"This position of medical marijuana is actually an alternative to other drugs if it doesn't give a good response. Medical marijuana can only be used if other drugs don't work, and even then with a note that the medical marijuana user is a drug that has been clinically tested, so the dosage and how to use it is clear", she continued.

Meanwhile, the General Chair of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI), Dr. Adib Khumaidi, SpOT said, so far further research is still being carried out regarding cannabis as a treatment. IDI encourages research before it is finally used in medical services.

IDI experts involved in research at the Indonesian Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions are still collecting scientific references related to medical marijuana.

"Internal processes have been carried out by IDI with elaboration on the existing scientific basis, of course, research with scientific references. Everything must remain evidence-based, not to be detrimental and safety, patient safety must be taken into account", said Dr. Adib.

The legality of medical marijuana must be decided after going through an in-depth examination. It is necessary to coordinate all relevant parties, namely the DPR, Ministry of Health, BPOM, BNN, and MUI, to make regulations for the development and use of drugs derived from marijuana, such as Cannabidiol, taking into account all the risks and benefits.

Cannabis-related research needs to be regulated while remaining open to scientific advances, while still limiting access to prevent abuse.

Earlier this week, the Indonesian Minister of Health, Ir Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that the Indonesian Ministry of Health would soon grant a permit for cannabis to be carried out for medical research. The regulation will refer to the results of a study by the Ministry of Health regarding the use of medical marijuana. However, the Minister of Health firmly said that marijuana for consumption is still prohibited.