Ex VP against marijuana legalization

Marijuana cannot be legalized in Indonesia because it is hazardous to health and safety, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Chairman Jusuf Kalla said in Jakarta on Saturday.

"We cannot legalize marijuana because at certain doses it is unbelievably dangerous to health," said the former vice president at the sidelines of free cataract operations at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM)as quoted by antara news agency.

Despite his opposition, Kalla said anyone could put forth a wide range of proposals including the legalization of marijuana, since Indonesia was a democratic country.

Kalla said marijuana was legal if it was used for medication, but it could not be legalized for other uses. The PMI chairman added that only the Netherlands had at present legalized marijuana, but in Indonesia marijuana (Cannabis sativa) was prohibited under Law No.35/2009 on Drugs.

A number of people from the Nusantara Marijuana Circle (LGN) voiced support for the legalization of the marijuana by staging a Global Marijuana in March 2011.