 is set to launch a study on medical cannabis, responding to public demand and a Constitutional Court ruling.){kind=link}
Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN) is preparing to conduct a formal study on the potential medical uses of cannabis, working alongside the Health Ministry and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). This move follows a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling that encouraged the government to investigate the therapeutic applications of cannabis, responding to growing public interest in the plant’s potential benefits.
Following a Court Directive
BNN Chief Marthinus Hukom confirmed that the study is being developed to fulfill the agency’s constitutional responsibilities. The 2020 court decision urged the government to gather accurate, scientific data on medical cannabis before making any policy decisions.
Advanced Research Facilities
The study will be conducted at BNN’s forensic laboratory, which Marthinus described as one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Southeast Asia. This lab will play a central role in examining the medical properties of cannabis, ensuring that the findings are scientifically sound and credible.
Pressure from Advocacy Groups
The announcement comes after years of lobbying by civil society organizations and families of children with severe medical conditions, like cerebral palsy, who believe that cannabis-based treatments could improve quality of life.
Hinca Panjaitan, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, has been critical of the slow progress. He recently highlighted the case of a child with cerebral palsy whose family had pushed for the court ruling, only for the child to pass away while waiting for the government to act.
Strict Drug Policies Remain in Force
Despite this step toward research, Indonesia still enforces some of the toughest drug laws in the world, along with countries like Singapore, categorizing cannabis as a Category I narcotic with no officially recognized medical uses. However, the 2020 court decision created a pathway for scientific research, even if it stopped short of full legalization.
Moving Forward with Caution
While neighboring Thailand has taken bold steps by legalizing medical cannabis and relaxing its broader cannabis laws, Indonesia remains cautious. The BNN’s research could potentially influence future policy changes, depending on the findings.
No specific timeline for the study’s completion has been provided, but Marthinus emphasized the need for a thorough, evidence-based approach before making any policy recommendations.