Based on the law no. 35/2009 on narcotics, cannabis is categorized as type 1 narcotics
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN) has firmly rejected a suggestion raised by a lawmaker of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to export cannabis, currently categorized as type 1 narcotics.

"Based on the law no. 35/2009 on narcotics, cannabis is categorized as type 1 narcotics which means that it is banned to take its seeds, fruits, straw, or any other parts of the plant or processed products for any purpose," BNN's Deputy of Eradication Inspector General (Pol.) Arman Depari said in a statement here on Sunday.

In a meeting with Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto on Thursday (Jan 30), a lawmaker of the House of Representatives Commission VI overseeing trade and industry, Rafli, raised the idea to make marijuana become an export commodity.

Cannabis that can grow easily in Aceh has the export opportunity as several countries legalize the drug.

"Marijuana (can be exported) for maybe pharmaceutical purposes or other uses but we shouldn’t be too strict about this. We should be flexible. It can grow easily in Aceh," Rafli said.

Depari said, misapplication of marijuana could be harmful to health permanently and caused addiction.

On the other hand, he continued, there has been no medical research that can prove marijuana as a medicine for certain illness such as asthma.

"Some said that marijuana can cure certain illness such as asthma. This is a misleading opinion," he said, adding that various medicines for asthma are already available to date.

Depari said that none of countries has excluded marijuana as type 1 narcotics from their laws. Hence any party that wants to use marijuana for purposes apart from the legal provision, it can be considered as a crime.

"Any violation of the law can be considered as a crime. Therefore, if there is any wish to legalize marijuana, we need to trace the motivation, whether it is for the interest of the people or the syndicate," Depari said.

Indonesia, which has one of the strictest drug laws in the world, currently bans the use and possession of marijuana.

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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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