Indonesian narcotics agency to study legalization of medical cannabis

The Indonesian National Narcotics Agency (BNN) announced that it would begin a study on the therapeutic potential of medical cannabis.

The study will be conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN).

«We are asking for time to conduct this study because there is currently a debate over the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes,» said Marthinus Hukom, the head of the BNN. «We therefore need more precise research findings.»

This scientific examination will be conducted at the BNN’s forensic laboratory—which Mr. Hukom describes as one of the most advanced in Southeast Asia—and follows a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling that urged the government to assess the medical benefits of cannabis.

A Prudent Policy in a Region Undergoing Change

Indonesia currently classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance, alongside substances considered to have no beneficial health effects.

Violations of drug laws are punishable by severe penalties, including long prison terms, the death penalty for traffickers, and summary executions of consumers. However, the Constitutional Court's decision paved the way for a legal review, allowing scientific research to proceed within a strictly controlled framework.

This decision also comes at a time when the regional landscape is shifting. In 2022, Thailand made international headlines by legalizing medical cannabis and subsequently decriminalizing its broader use, in stark contrast to the Indonesia's extremely restrictive policies. While authorities in Jakarta have remained cautious, the BNN’s research initiative suggests that attitudes toward regulation are changing, albeit slowly.

Hinca Panjaitan, a member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, is one of the most vocal critics of the the government's delay. He emphasized that the Constitutional Court’s ruling should have prompted research efforts much earlier.

«A child who had been living with cerebral palsy for 10 years recently passed away. The child’s parent was one of those who filed a motion for reconsideration,» he said, as reported by local media. «The government has taken too long to act on research that should have begun years ago.»

No schedule, but high expectations

Despite the groundbreaking nature of the announcement, no specific timeline has been set for the completion of the study. Mr. Hukom emphasized that the research must be thorough, rigorous, and based on credible scientific data before any policy changes can be considered.

«This is part of our constitutional obligations,» he noted, suggesting that the agency is under both legal and moral pressure to take decisive action.