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Reluctantly, Indonesia may open door to medicinal marijuana
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said that his ministry would soon publish new regulations aimed at allowing research on the medicinal benefits of marijuana.
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Three mothers are hoping that cannabidiol (CBD) can be used for medicinal purposes as it is proven to reduce seizures, especially for cerebral palsy patients like their own children. (Archive/Courtesy of LGN)
T
he plight of a mother, whose plea to legalize medical marijuana was amplified by social media, has suddenly reignited discussions within government and among lawmakers about making a limited exception for the banned substance in a country known for its firm anti-drug policy.
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin may have been the highest profile figure to wade into the topic last week, acting in his capacity as government caretaker-in-chief to get the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) to reconsider its stance.
But the renewed push to legalize medical marijuana gained momentum after a tweet by an Indonesian celebrity went viral – ironically – after World Drug Day on June 26.
At the time, singer Andien Aisyah tweeted a picture of Santi Warastuti, mother to 12-year-old Pika Sasikirana who has cerebral palsy, holding a sign saying, “help, my child needs medical marijuana,” during Car-Free Sunday in Jakarta that coincided with the international celebration.
The tweet has since been shared more than 40,000 times.
Two days later, former MUI chairman Ma’ruf instructed the top Islamic clerical body to issue a fatwa to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Read also: With Jokowi away in Kyiv, VP Ma'ruf steps into spotlight
