While the UN removed marijuana from its most dangerous narcotics list due to its medical properties in 2020, Indonesian authorities are still skeptical of the drug.

Categorized in Schedule I by Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics, marijuana is prohibited from being consumed for the interest of health services by Article 8 (1) of the law. Fidelis Arie Sudewarto's case was a wake-up call for some activists to campaign for the cause more actively.

"It was shocking that it actually happened, a citizen got convicted for trying to cure another citizen," said Iftitahsari, a researcher at the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) and one of the attorneys of the plaintiffs. "The Fidelis case was in 2017 and the ICJR has been preparing its judicial review since then."

After its amendment through the controversial Job Creation Law, the Narcotics Law is returning to the table as part of the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) for 2021. It is also currently undergoing scrutiny in the Constitutional Court after the three mothers' judicial review petition.

"Keynan suffers from epilepsy and spastic diplegia, which is also a form of cerebral palsy. She was first diagnosed when she was 2 months old. This disease causes motor disturbances and seizures that recur every day," wrote Nafiah Murhayanti, mother of 10-year-old Masayu Keynan Almeera P, in her plea. "Keynan still has convulsions from time to time and her mobility is also limited." 

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