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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Indonesia: Aceh may legalise cannabis
The Star, Malaysia Tuesday 04 Feb 2020 Indonesia, which has one of the strictest drug laws in the world, currently prohibits the possession and use of marijuana. According to the 2009 Law on Narcotics, marijuana is a type-1 narcotic, putting it on par with crystal methamphetamine and heroin, which are illegal for consumption including for medical purposes. Despite the ban, cannabis cultivation remains common in Aceh. In response, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has established the Grand Design Alternative Development (GDAD) 2016-2025 program, which aims to decrease the cultivation of cannabis in three regencies in the province by encouraging farmers to shift to other commodities. This is part of the country’s fight against the use of marijuana, which is used by 63% of Indonesia’s 3.6 million illegal drug users aged 15 to 65. A professor at Aceh’s Syiah Kuala University, Musri Musman, said that allowing Acehnese people to cultivate the plant would improve the local economy, as it could be used not only for medical purposes but also as material for food, clothing and cosmetics and other goods. He said global market demand for cannabis oil was also high and that the cannabidiol (CBD) compound found in Aceh’s cannabis was considered unique by those from other countries. For cultivation to be permitted, marijuana would have to be categorized as type A 3 narcotic, meaning it could be used for medical and research purposes. Musri said his study found that, if managed well, cannabis could create more benefits than losses, arguing that the only harmful compound found in the substance was tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which could cause euphoria in users. “I’m certain that if the government legalises cannabis and allow citizens to cultivate the plant, the Acehnese people will be rich and won’t need subsidies from the central government,” Musri said during a recent discussion on cannabis and poverty held by the institute in Aceh. A 2016 briefing paper by global think tank Transnational Institute found that while Aceh was the main source of the country’s cannabis, the plant was also cultivated illicitly for commercial purposes in Bengkulu, West Sumatra, and Lampung and Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra, where the plantations did not exceed one hectare in area and farmers sometimes moved plots after harvests. In Aceh, which is also known for its strict enforcement of syariah law, local residents make use of cannabis in cooking and herbal remedies, such as for diabetes. Households often grow several cannabis plants in their backyard, although they are not often sold for commercial purposes.Dhira Narayana, head of the Nusantara Marijuana Network, which has been campaigning for the legalization of marijuana in the country, said that the group would push for a judicial review of the narcotics law to allow cannabis for medical and local customary use. — The Jakarta Post/ANw https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/02/04/aceh-may-legalise-cannabis
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