SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED IN INDONESIA?

This paper is submitted to complete Higher Intermediate level

Name : Muhammad Faiq Athallah Nurindra

Student Card No :
Teacher : Mrs. Juju Jubaedah

LB LIA MARTADINATA BANDUNG

2/2019
 OUTLINE
Topic: Should marijuana be legalized in Indonesia
I. INTRODUCTION
 General Sentence
o Marijuana is considered as a drugs in Indonesia
o Medical view regarding marijuana as an treatment method for many disease
o one of the largest marijuana farms in the world are located on Aceh
 Thesis Statement
I believe that Indonesia should legalize marijuana because. Marijuana is not
drugs but herb, marijuana is used in the medical world, and the state could gain incomes
from marijuana farming
II. BODY
 Pro-Arguments
o Marijuana is not a drugs, in fact it is a herb
 It is made with the mixture from dried flowers of cannabis sativa
 Marijuana has been used since ancient age for both herbal
medication and intoxication
 The intoxicating effect that makes the users delusional are
caused by the chemical in marijuana, delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

o Marijuana is used in medicinal world

 It is commonly used to ease pain after surgery
 HIV/AIDS patient consume Marijuana to get the munchies effect
from it that makes them get an appetite to eat
 Medical Marijuana is processed before used to get Cannabidiol
(CBD) that has many benefits and meant to treat the users

o The state could gain incomes from marijuana farming

 The Possibility to export marijuana to other country and invest on
it
 Some of the best marijuana comes from Aceh, and has long been
known on a global scale
 Marijuana farmers in Aceh could gain big profits from marijuana
farming and market
 Counter-Arguments
o There are many Illegal transactions of marijuana
 The marijuana does not include with prescription
 The widespread of illegal marijuana could make the black market
go up
 There is a lot of unprocessed marijuana in the transactions
o It causes marijuana addiction
 By consuming marijuana without the right dose
 Continuously consuming it even if they did not have to
 Teens and kids could easily consume marijuana
 Refutation
o The consumer must know how to consume marijuana
 Follow the rules given by the government
 Follow the dosage as recommended by the provider
 Buy marijuana from the verified seller
 Solution
o There should be counseling and conference from the health institution
and the government about marijuana
 Conclusion
Marijuana is a taboo thing in Indonesia, Indonesian’s still consider it as a
drugs but it is not. We can use marijuana for greater goods like as a medicine
and as an economic boost for Indonesia. Start educating people about
marijuana, the longer we wait we will lose all available possibility to promote
marijuana.
 Should Marijuana Be Legalized in Indonesia
“Marijuana Prohibition is just the stupidest law possible… just legalize it and tax it like we
do liquor”. –Morgan Freeman. Should Indonesia legalize marijuana? What is exactly marijuana?
Is it really drug, does it have a positive purpose? Marijuana is also called weed, herb, pot, grass,
bud, ganja and vast number of other slang terms, is a greenish-gray mixture of dried herbs of
cannabis sativa. Some people smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, sometimes
in pipe, water pipes (also called bongs), or in blunts (rolled in cigar warps). Marijuana also can be
used to brew tea and, particularly when it is sold or consumed for medicinal purpose. Many
people have used marijuana for their medical issues, and also their mental issues Let us take an
example, one celebrity in Indonesia has been caught by the police because he had marijuana and
had been proved that he consumed it too, but he had an excuse. As an actor he works every
single hour nearly every day. There is no way that human cannot get exhausted by that. So he
used marijuana to keep his stamina, and seen fresh by the media. Also all the burden he has as
an actor makes him very stressed as he cannot rest well. That is why he used marijuana, so he
can rest. So why did he use marijuana instead of sleeping pills or maybe liquor? The reason why
he used marijuana was because, marijuana has a component called Cannabidiol that has many
benefits including relieving insomnia, anxiety, spasticity and to treat life threatening condition.
So why is marijuana illegal in Indonesia? That is because Indonesian government think marijuana
is drugs, and equalize marijuana with opium, cocaine and morphine, although it is not the same
as those drugs mentioned. Opium cocaine and morphine are classified as hard drugs because
they are addictive and injectable also the purity, amount, frequency of use, social context, and
route of administration that determines how harmful it is. Different from marijuana that are
classified as soft drugs because it is relatively soft and harmless. The illegalization of marijuana
started at the 20th century, it started from an article in the New Orleans newspaper which
explained “Marijuana threats” that followed by other newspapers, without any prove of the
newspapers states that “marijuana can make people do criminals and even go insane”, the result
of mass media error is the publishment of federal anti-marijuana law. Then marijuana is legally
classified as a narcotics. Marijuana plant contains more than 100 different chemicals, each of
them has a different effect on our body, in the medical world it is proved that in our brain we
have 2 receptors for tetrahydrocannabinol that called Cannabinoid 1 and Cannabinoid 2,
Cannabinoid 1 are receptor related to the most prominent protein-G, Cannabinoid2 are found in
the brain stem and immune system of a human. Why are there the receptors in our b-rain?
Because our brain has evolved to mediate the effect of marijuana, scientist has found a
neurotransmitter cannabinoid endogen that are produced by our own body, so our body is
familiar with Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol because since hereditary our body has
embedded by receptors to respond positively the chemicals consumed. The medical world could
gain stocks of marijuana from Indonesia, because one of the world largest marijuana farms is
located in Indonesia. I believe that Indonesia should legalize marijuana because, Marijuana is not
drugs, but herb, marijuana is used in the medical world, and the state could gain incomes from
marijuana farming.
 Firstly, Marijuana is not a drugs, in fact it is a herb, Marijuana is made with the mixture of
cannabis sativa, that are classified as an herb, the plant can be used as a source of industrial fiber,
seed oil, food recreation and medicine. It has roughly 120 different compounds depending on
the purpose of using. One of them including cannabinoids the main compound of marijuana.
Marijuana has been used since the ancient age for both herbal medication and intoxication,
according to a study by the Institute of Medicine, marijuana is indigenous to central Asia, and
marijuana is possibly one of the earliest plants to be cultivated, and had been cultivated in japan
since the pre-Neolithic period as a food source and as a psychoactive material. The Chinese later
used marijuana to make clothes, shoes, ropes, and an early form of paper. In ancient Korea,
marijuana was an important crop with the sample of fabric that are made from marijuana that
discovered in early 3000 BCE. Marijuana also used by the ancient Assyrians, they used it in some
religious ceremonies, the classical Greek historian, reported that the inhabitants of central
Eurasia would often inhale the vapors of marijuana-seed smoke, both as ritual and for their own
pleasurable recreation. The intoxicating effect that makes the users delusional are caused by the
chemical in marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the many compounds that can
be found in the plant, THC produces a high sense of euphoria for the user and can alter normal
brain communication, the effect on the brain is more profound for teens, for example
Tetrahydrocannabinol is able to alter the functioning of the hippocampus and orbitofrontal
cortex, brain areas that enable a person to form new memories and shift his or her attentional
focus. As a result, using marijuana causes impaired thinking and interferes with a person’s ability
to learn and perform complicated tasks. Tetrahydrocannabinol also disrupts functioning of the
cerebellum and basal ganglia, brain areas that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and
reaction time. This is the reason why people who have used marijuana may not be able to drive
safely and may have problems playing sports or engaging in other physical activities,
Tetrahydrocannabinol acting through cannabinoid receptors, also activates the brain’s reward
system, which includes regions that govern the response to healthy pleasurable behaviors such
as sex and eating. Like most other drugs that people misuse, Tetrahydrocannabinol stimulates
neurons in the reward system to release the signaling chemical dopamine at levels higher than
typically observed in response to natural stimulate. This flood of dopamine contributes to the
pleasurable "high" that those who use recreational marijuana seek.

Secondly, Marijuana is used in medicinal world, marijuana is commonly used to ease pain
after surgery. By using indica type of marijuana to manage pain, and for sedation that contain
cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids have shown significant promise in basic experiments on pain.
Peripheral nerves that detect pain sensations contain abundant receptors for cannabinoids, and
cannabinoids appear to block peripheral nerve pain in experimental animals. Even more
encouraging, basic studies suggest that opiates and cannabinoids suppress pain through different
mechanisms. If that is the case, marijuana-based medicines could perhaps be combined with
opiates to boost their pain-relieving power while limiting their side effects. HIV/AIDS patient
consume Marijuana to get the munchies effect from it that makes them get an appetite to eat.
Since laws at the time largely forbade the use of marijuana in clinical settings, doctors began to
prescribe the Schedule III drug Marinol (dronabinol), which contains a synthetic form of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient of cannabis. While Marinol proved to be
successful in alleviating many of the symptoms of HIV wasting, many still preferred the “instant
hit” afforded from three to four puffs of a marijuana cigarette. HIV/AIDS patient commonly have
loss of appetites that can result to malnutrition which can be a major factor to the onset of death.
By consuming marijuana the patient will get munchies effect caused by the psychoactive
compound in cannabis that makes you high and affects the part of your brain that controls
appetite also stimulates hormone that makes the patient hungry, it makes food smell better and
taste more delicious. Basically it make your body feel hungry even when it is not. Medical
Marijuana is processed before used to get Cannabidiol (CBD) that has many benefits and meant
to treat the users. This component of marijuana has little intoxicating properties, cannabidiol
strains have little or no THC compound that makes the user delusional, and so patients report
very little alteration in consciousness.

Thirdly, the state could gain incomes from marijuana farming. The possibility to export
marijuana to other country and invest on it. Marijuana is currently rising in Asia, marijuana
company shares soared 73% in 1 year, Marijuana legalization in USA got a good reception, and
the trend will likely happen in Asia. The state must take advantage of it by exporting and
investing. Some of the best marijuanas comes from Aceh, and has long been known on a global
scale. Aceh is the biggest and best marijuana producer in Southeast Asia after Thailand and has
been spread abroad. The factor that made Aceh marijuana known as the best is because the
fertile soil conditions and the land precisely located on the equator, which has the good sunlight
that shines Aceh from the morning until noon it boosts the marijuana growth rate and qualities,
the absorption of sunlight affects the growth and quality of cannabis. Aceh has it, has good
sunlight from morning to afternoon. So Aceh's cannabis is fertile and has the best taste in the
world. The growth rate of cannabis in Aceh has always been extraordinary. It can even be said to
be first place as an area of active growth. Achievement of cannabis growth in Aceh exceeds North
Sumatra which also has hundreds of hectares of cannabis fields. Aceh is number one in producing
marijuana, the second is North Sumatra in the mandailing Natal region and others. We can see
the proof through the discovery of cannabis fields in Aceh. Almost every year, tens of hectares of
cannabis fields found in Aceh are always in different places Marijuana farmers in Aceh could gain
big profits from marijuana farming and market. There are approximately hectares of marijuana
tree in Aceh, that prove marijuana are promising economic asset because economically
marijuana reaped big profits. Local farmers there are able to plant marijuana trees very well and
produce 500 grams of medical marijuana at every harvest. 1 Kilograms of marijuana can be sold
200 thousand rupiah which is the local price. If we calculate, the selling price of 1 cannabis tree
can reach 100 million rupiah. With that price farmers could get a return and plant more
marijuana.

However there are some opposing ideas to the statement I stated before, some have a
problem with this perspective, viewing it as. Firstly, there are many Illegal transactions of
marijuana. The marijuana is not included with prescription. To get marijuana usually, we need a
written recommendation from a doctor in states where that is legal. We must have a condition
that qualifies for marijuana use, doctor may also require you to get a marijuana ID card. Once we
have that card, we can buy marijuana at store where it supply marijuana for medical purpose.
The widespread of illegal marijuana could make the black market go up. By buying illegal
marijuana indirectly the buyer boost the illegal market where the dealer in. The market will gain
profit and will develop from time to time, that will cause many new dealers to surface and
marijuana demand will rise to the streets causing the market more powerful. There is a lot of
unprocessed marijuana in the transactions. Before used marijuana plant are processed first. It
needs to be processed to obtain the cannabinoids, the less harmful compounds. By not
processing it first, the compound in marijuana is raw so the risk is high for the consumer because,
there are still many harmful compounds that exist on it, such as of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
that makes the consumer of marijuana delusional and even go insane.
Secondly, it causes marijuana addiction. By consuming marijuana without the right dose.
Dosage is the key factor in achieving the most benefits and least adverse effects of cannabis. After
following thousands of patients using medical cannabis for eight years, doctors have observed that
dosing cannabis is unlike any therapeutic agent to which was exposed in medical training. A basic
understanding of the key characteristics of cannabis dosing can empower us to make the most of this
incredibly versatile, safe, and effective herb. Usually if we want to consume marijuana, the store
gives us the right dosage according to our condition, by consuming it wrongly the high dosage of
marijuana can alter brain function and make the consumer attached to marijuana. Continuously
consuming it even if they did not have to. The consumer of marijuana usually has reasons to
consume it, and addiction is not one of them. Someone that consume marijuana because he/she
is addicted to it, is wrong, he/she have missused marijuana he/she consume marijuana to seek
the pleasure of it, instead of curing disease they make their own disease that is marijuana
addiction. Teens and kids could easily consume marijuana. As we know teens and kids easily get
curious. Many teens have known marijuana from their friends that has known it first, other than
that they can know marijuana from western cultures, many celebrities and rappers consume
marijuana, they think it is cool to imitate their idols in fact, it is wrong. Kids also can be influenced
by older people, the older people first offer marijuana for free, and they preserved marijuana for
the kids as many as the kids want until the kids get addicted.
On the other hand those opposing perspective are not totally correct. The truth of the
matter is. Firstly, the consumer must know how to consume marijuana. By following the rules
given by the government. By giving policies and laws pertaining to marijuana utilization, the
government will decrease the misuse of ganja and various accident or crime which are related to
marijuana usage. For instance accident caused because the driver are driving under intoxication
(DUI) because they have used marijuana before driving, to resolve that problem there will be a
law that prohibit a person that has consume marijuana to drive a vehicle because, by consuming
marijuana they may not be able to drive safely. To be allowed using vehicle again, they must wait
until they get sober and the effect of marijuana has worn off. By following the dosage as
recommended by the provider of marijuana. The users of marijuana will only be able to consume
marijuana according to the dosage given by the provider, by applying to that policy both the
providers and the users will have benefit from it. The providers can only give some amount of
marijuana to them, so they will not short on stock, and the buyer will achieve the most benefits
and effects of marijuana, by dosing the marijuana usage matching with their issues. Also reducing
risk of the users to get addicted and attached to marijuana, after all of the given marijuana had
been all used then they will stop consuming marijuana, if the issues is not yet healed, they will
consult to expert whether they are still have to use marijuana or not. By buying marijuana from
the verified seller. Buying marijuana from the verified seller means that we have supported the
marijuana scene in the country, it will boost the seller and the states especially if we bought the
local made marijuana. The marijuana we bought will be trusted because it accompanied by
prescription from doctor, that can prove that the marijuana we have bought is legal and safe to
consume.
Since the previous ideas have been ineffective, a more comprehensive approach needs
to be taken, I come up with solutions that would be. There should be a conference and counseling
from the health institution and the government about marijuana. The government arranges
conference and counseling with representative from related institution such as, the health
institution legal institution and marijuana activist representative. They will talk about the
possibility to legalize marijuana, and the impact on all aspect which affected by it, the health
institution and marijuana activist representative will explain the benefit of marijuana in all
aspects. The legal institution and government will adjust the law regarding marijuana. There will
be an agreement between them and the government will approve the new regulations, policy
and laws regarding marijuana. Legalization, along with reasonable regulations, will reduce
violence, abuse and crime. If marijuana becomes legal, marijuana-related crime will disappear.
Controlled distribution & safe environment will eliminate black market crime and related crimes.
To conclude all of the ideas and perspective above we have a conclusion that Marijuana
is a taboo thing in Indonesia, Indonesian are still considering it as a drugs but it is not. We can
use marijuana for greater goods like as a medicine and as an economic boost for Indonesia. Start
educating people about marijuana, the longer we wait we will lose all available possibility to
promote marijuana. The government is wasting time and money by prohibiting the use of
marijuana. Taxpayers are forced to pay taxes, one of which is to persecute, prosecute, and
imprison people who own & use marijuana. If cannabis becomes legal and regulated by the
government (such as alcohol and tobacco), its financial benefits, plus tax revenue from the sale
of cannabis, can be used for other purposes such as education and health care. Prohibition is not
an effective solution for problems related to marijuana use. Marijuana, like tobacco and alcohol,
can be misused. But prohibition is expensive and ineffective, education and regulation are the
better solution. Organizing cannabis sales and teaching people the truth about the impact of
marijuana on health will enable us to minimize costs and losses to society.