‘Cendekiawan’ Foundation Poised to Advocate for Medical Cannabis Governance Bill
The ‘Cendekiawan Ilmu Pengetahuan’ Foundation participated in a presentation titled “Decriminalizing Approach Towards Shifting Paradigms in Indonesia Cannabis Policy” at the International Conference on Drug Research and Policy. The event was held on May 14–15, 2024, at Atma Jaya Catholic University in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The ‘Cendekiawan Ilmu Pengetahuan’ Foundation, also referred to as ‘Cendekiawan,’ was established on April 20, 2024. The foundation’s first activity was participation in the International Conference on Drug Research and Policy.
Hosted by the Indonesian Center for Drugs Research (ICDR), this two-day event was the first of its kind in the country and will subsequently be organized annually. The conference aims to address the urgent need to tackle the complex and evolving challenges of substance use.
Despite being newly established, Cendekiawan provides a platform for seasoned activists to advance their commitment to legalizing medical cannabis in Indonesia.
Singgih Tomi Gumilang, chairman of Cendekiawan, asserted that the foundation was established to propose the Regulation or Governance Bill Plan of Medical Cannabis, while also enhancing educational potential and public awareness of the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis.
He further explained, “Cendekiawan aims to provide legal education, particularly in the effort to revise the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics. This includes reclassifying cannabis plants from the List of Class I Narcotics to the List of Class III Narcotics. The reclassification would apply to the entire cannabis genus and all its parts, including seeds, fruits, straws, processed products like marijuana resin and hashish, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and all isomers and stereochemical forms of THC. The current classification in the List of Class I Narcotics not only restricts access to health services but also hinders clinical trials for medical cannabis.”
Viqqi Kurnianda, vice chairman of Cendekiawan and a researcher at Ryukyus University in Japan, explained, “Scientific research and initiatives are integral to the foundation’s activities. Our goal is to broaden and deepen understanding of medical cannabis and its therapeutic benefits, including those found in Cannabidiol (CBD), THC, and other cannabinoids. This knowledge can pave the way for legal breakthroughs and support the establishment of medical cannabis regulations.”
As for the involvement of the foundation in the ICDR event, Aulia Rachmat Sungkar, secretary of Cendekiawan, said that the foundation’s participation underscores its commitment to advocating for the creation of a Medical Cannabis Governance Bill and to shifting the cannabis paradigm away from criminalization. Criminalizing medical cannabis users has proven ineffective and has contributed to prison overcrowding.
“The theme ‘Decriminalizing Approach Towards Shifting Paradigms in Indonesia Cannabis Policy’ in this academic publication highlights the urgent need for policy reform. It advocates for the decriminalization and regulatory control of medical cannabis utilization,” he concluded.
Originally published at https://thewriterpreneur.com on May 16, 2024.
