Although a number of countries are starting to legalize marijuana, in terms of numbers there are still more countries that make the opium plant illegal.
The Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) RI Commissioner General Petrus Reinhard Golose reiterated that there is no discussion about legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational needs in Indonesia, although several countries have started to legalize the opium plant.
“There is no discussion to date for the legalization of marijuana. Elsewhere there are, but not in Indonesia," said Petrus Golose on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 2022 International Anti-narcotics Day (HANI) in Badung, Bali, Sunday 19 June 2022.
Petrus stated that although a number of countries have started to legalize marijuana, in terms of numbers there are still more countries that make the opium plant illegal.
Petrus gave an example that the marijuana legalization policy in the United States is not evenly distributed, only in the states, not centrally or at the federal level.
Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, only Thailand has legalized the cultivation and use of cannabis for medical purposes.
"However, let it be in other countries. I remain consistent not to (discuss discourse) legalizing marijuana," said Petrus on the sidelines of the international table tennis tournament which is part of the 2022 HANI series in Bali.
Regarding the kratom plant which had attracted public attention because it was considered to have an addictive effect, Golose said that his party was still studying it.
“Kratom is still in progress, we are seeing how until now it is still waiting. There are rules that we have to follow. However, we from the National Narcotics Agency propose it to be one of the ingredients in changing the (Narcotics, ed.) Law," said the Head of BNN.
Last year, BNN announced its plan to propose that kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) be included in class I narcotics so that the plant cannot be used for treatment.
The plan then sparked a polemic because several community groups used kratom as an ingredient in traditional/herbal medicines. (antara, tempo, foto: ilustrasi)
