GROUP PROMOTES MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION INITIATIVE

Convinced that marijuana could be used for medical purposes, a group
in Jakarta is campaigning to promote legalization.

The group called Lingkar Ganja Nusantara (Nusantara Marijuana
Network) said that for decades, society has had misperceptions about
marijuana, and the alleged ills that it may potentially cause,
without ever looking into its potential benefits.

"If we explore further, cannabis actually has more benefits than
negative effects on humans," said network chairman Irwan Syarif.

Irwan said that for medical purposes, marijuana could be used in
cancer treatment procedures and could also work as an anti-inflammation drug.

Marijuana contains a chemical compound known as cannabinoid, which
could be used as an effective painkiller, to control nausea and to
stimulate a person's appetite, he added.

For industrial purposes, Irwan said that the fiber from hemp, a type
of cannabis plant, could be used as raw material in the production of
rope, pulp, oil and food.

"We've visited a pulp and paper factory and it proves that paper made
from hemp is more durable. After being recycled eight times, the
paper is still of good quality," Irwan said.

Lingkar Ganja Nusantara, established in 2008, is an organization that
endorses the legalization of marijuana in Indonesia. It has organized
campaigns and discussions about the positive uses of marijuana.

Irwan said that the network could also serve as an information hub
for the general public and help dispel the notion that marijuana kills.

The network is set to fight an uphill battle to push the government
to recognize the utility of cannabis.

"We will go up a notch by trying to convince the government to exempt
marijuana from the category of harmful drugs in the law on narcotics," he said.

According to Law No. 35/2009 on Narcotics, marijuana is deemed a
narcotic. It outlaws the use and possession of marijuana and all of
its derivative substances unless used for scientific purpose.

It also states that the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) is the
only agency tasked to monitor the use of marijuana for scientific or
technology purposes.

The network has blamed the law for the proliferation of illegal
marijuana on the black market. The network has argued that
legalization would make it easier for the government to control its use.

National Narcotics Agency (BNN) spokesperson Sumirat Dwiyanto said
that there had never been a plan to legalize marijuana.

Sumirat also dismissed arguments that marijuana would be valuable for
the medical industry.

"As long as it is still categorized as an illegal substance under the
narcotics law, the use and the possession of marijuana is also
illegal in this country," he said.