IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – The member of the House of Representatives’ (DPR) Law Commission, Hinca Panjaitan, demanded Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto conduct research on marijuana for medical use.
“The Health Minister can redeem the mistake of the previous minister by doing research,” said Hinca in an online discussion broadcasted via VOI’s Youtube account on Thursday, June 18.
According to the DPR member, since the Netherlands banned narcotics in Indonesia, the government has never officially analyzed cannabis from the health side thus far.
The Health Minister for 2014-2019 Nila F. Moeloek, Hinca recalled, had been urged to do research in 2017, yet she rejected the idea as she considered it not a priority.
“She said, ‘we carry out research that produces great benefits, but if it is expensive and its benefit is low, we will incur a loss, and we can still think of other subjects.’” said Hinca quoting Nila’s statement.
He claimed that debates about marijuana for medical purposes have not been so far resolved through academic studies. Besides, revision of the law on narcotics is also a current priority.
The Democrat Party politician pinned hope that research on cannabis could be done before revising the law on narcotics. “The state must intervene in whether marijuana is good for health or not. Do the research. The Health Minister (Terawan) has the responsibility for that,” Hinca said.
Read: BNN Talks about Global Medical Marijuana Dilemma
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