Novi Christiastuti Adiputri, Jakarta – The Nusantara Marijuana Circle (LGN) held a long-march through the Farmers Monument area in Central Jakarta on Saturday May 7 to commemorate the Global Marijuana March (GMM).

Around 50 people wearing white T-shirts with the LGN logo gathered at the Farmers Monument bringing banners and posters, one of which read “Global Marijuana March”, with another reading “[We] demand the government provide the objective facts”.

Other posters had unique messages such as “Marijuana for Indonesia’s future”, “Legalise for meditational purposes”, “Food and energy industry, marijuana is the solution”, “We like Marijuana” and “Marijuana go Green”.

The protesters marched around the Farmers Monument area accompanied by a pickup truck carrying a sound system. In the style of Jamaican reggae, some wore their hair in dreadlocks and music could be heard in the reggae genre.

LGN spokesperson Dira Narayana said that the event has been organised in Indonesia since last year while internationally it has been taking place for the last five years. “Overseas it is still taking place to this day, we are trying to pioneer it here”, said Narayana.

When asked about the direction of the movement, Narayana explained that it is only an issue of information saying that Marijuana can be used to treat cancer and other illnesses. Narayana also said that the movement already exists in 250 cities and 50 countries.

“Marijuana is no more dangerous than coffee and tea, although if in large amounts it can also cause intoxication. There is overseas research overseas to that effect, it’s not dangerous. We have also tried to conduct research here”, Narayana asserted. (mpr/gah)

Source: LGN Serukan ‘Ganja Untuk Masa Depan Indonesia’ di Tugu Tani – detikNews. Sabtu, 07/05/2011

 [Translated by James Balowski.]