Mohammad Arief Hidayat and Dani Randi (Banda Aceh) – The chairperson of the Acehnese Regional House of Representatives' (DPR Aceh) Commission V for Health Affairs, M Rizal Falevi, has proposed a draft qanun (bylaw) legalising cannabis for medical use so it can be included in the 2023 priority Regional Legislation Program (Prolegda).
The proposal has also been submitted to the Aceh DPR Legislative Body (Baleg) and Commission V has already held a meeting on the proposal.
"In 2023, one of the qanun which will be a special priority is the qanun on legalising medical cannabis. So, we have already proposed it as a Commission V initiative and we have already submitted a title for it. I've already signed a letter and held a meeting with the Baleg", Falevi told journalists on Tuesday October 4.
The Aceh DPR still uses Health Ministry Regulation Number 16/2022 as a guideline while it waits for developments in revisions to the Narcotics Law which are being prepared by the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta.
Based on literature and the results of research, said Falevi, cannabis is not foreign or taboo in Aceh. However, what must be given attention is that the plant can be packaged in accordance with regulations so that it does not violate state regulations and the ordinary people won't be prosecuted.
The Aceh DPR wants cannabis to be able to be available as a medicine which can used by all patients in every hospital and at the same time to raise locally generated revenue (PAD).
The Constitutional Court recently ruled against a judicial review of the Narcotics Law on the issue of cannabis being allowed for medical use. Therefore it remains illegal for Class I narcotics such as cannabis to be used for health or medical purposes for as long as this stipulation remains in force.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "DPR Aceh Usul Rancangan Qanun Legalisasi Ganja untuk Medis".]
