LEGAL HARMONIZATION OF MEDICAL CANNABIS REGULATION IN THE FULFILLMENT OF THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IN INDONESIA
Abstract
Indonesia’s prohibition of cannabis originates from its adherence to international narcotics conventions, which historically denied recognition of cannabis’s medical value. However, the reclassification of cannabis by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in 2020 marked a significant shift in the global legal paradigm by acknowledging its therapeutic potential. This study examines the problem of legal inconsistency between Indonesia’s strict prohibition policy and the development of international standards regarding medical cannabis. This research employs a conceptual legal approach to analyze developments in international narcotics policy and their relevance to Indonesia’s narcotics law. The findings demonstrate that Indonesia’s current legal framework, particularly Law Number 35 of 2009 and Minister of Health Regulation Number 30 of 2023, creates legal disharmony with international developments and restricts the fulfillment of the right to health. From a humanistic perspective, this condition also affects patients who require alternative medical treatment, thereby raising concerns regarding equitable access to healthcare services. This study concludes that Indonesia should adjust its legal framework by permitting the limited use of cannabis for medical purposes under strict regulation. Such reform is consistent with the mandate of Constitutional Court Decision Number 106/PUU-XVIII/2020, which emphasizes the importance of opening legal space for research on medical cannabis.
Keywords
References
Abu-Sawwa, R., Scutt, B. & Park, Y. (2020). Emerging use of epidiolex (Cannabidiol) in epilepsy. Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 25(6), 485–499. https://doi.org/10.5863/1551-6776-25.6.485
Arimuladi, S. U., Utama, Y. J. & Asmara, T. (2021). Protection of human rights for narcotics users: A critique of the use of criminal sanctions in efforts to eradicate the spread of narcotics in Indonesia. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research, 10(7), 1–8. https://www.ashdin.com/articles/protection-of-human-rights-for-narcotics-users-a-critique-of-the-use-of-criminal-sanctions-in-efforts-to-eradicate-the-spread-of-n-82604.html
Bonny-Noach, H. & Ne’eman-Haviv, V. (2025). Addressing the legal and health challenges of licensed medical cannabis users who want to travel abroad. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 14(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13584-025-00723-2
Bruggink, J. . & Sidharta, A. (1999). Refleksi Tentang Hukum. Citra Aditya Bakthi.
Cásedas, G., Yarza-Sancho, M. de & López, V. (2024). Cannabidiol (CBD): A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Evidence in the Treatment of Pain. Pharmaceuticals, 17(11), 1438. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17111438
Chiao, V. (2016). What is the Criminal Law for? Law and Philosophy, 35(2), 137–163. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10982-015-9247-8
Darodjat, R. & Yuanitasari, D. (2024). Suatu Pengenalan: Hukum Ekonomi. Darbooks Media.
de Souza, M. R. (2022). Medical cannabis regulation: an overview of models around the world with emphasis on the Brazilian scenario. Journal of Cannabis Research, 4(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-022-00142-z
Fedtke, J. (2016). The method and culture of comparative law: essays in honour of Marc Van Hoecke. Comparative Legal History, 4(2), 255–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/2049677X.2016.1245039
Fischer, B., Lindner, S. R. & Hall, W. (2022). Cannabis use and public health: time for a comprehensive harm-to-others framework. The Lancet Public Health, 7(10), e808–e809. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00205-5
Freeman, T. P., Hindocha, C., Green, S. F. & Bloomfield, M. A. P. (2019). Medicinal use of cannabis based products and cannabinoids. BMJ, l1141. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l1141
Grotenhermen, F. (2018). The German medical cannabis law of 2017. Drugs and Alcohol Today, 18(2), 117–122. https://doi.org/10.1108/DAT-03-2018-0012
Gruzieva, T. S., Кorchevnyy, A. I., Palii, M. V, Diachenko, K. O. & Korolenko, V. V. (2024). Traceability and control as levers to prevent leakage from legal circulation when legalizing medical cannabis. Wiadomosci Lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960), 77(4), 635–639. https://doi.org/10.36740/WLek202404103
Heal, D. J., Gosden, J. & Smith, S. L. (2024). A critical assessment of the abuse, dependence and associated safety risks of naturally occurring and synthetic cannabinoids. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15(June), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322434
Hiariej, E. O. S. (2024). Prinsip Prinsip Hukum Pidana Edisi Penyesuaian KUHP Nasional. Raja Grafindo Persada.
Hidayatullah, F., Khalid, H. & Djanggih, H. (2025). Kriminalisasi Pohon Ganja di Indonesia. Legal Dialogica, 1(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/https://jurnal.fh.umi.ac.id/index.php/legal/article/view/1680
Hidding, U., Mainka, T. & Buhmann, C. (2024). Therapeutic use of medical Cannabis in neurological diseases: a clinical update. Journal of Neural Transmission, 131(2), 117–126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02719-1
Huestis, M. A., Solimini, R., Pichini, S., Pacifici, R., Carlier, J. & Busardò, F. P. (2019). Cannabidiol Adverse Effects and Toxicity. In Current Neuropharmacology (Vol. 17, Issue 10, pp. 974–989). https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159X17666190603171901
ICJR. (2021). Pengaruh Keputusan Commission on Narcotic Drugs terhadap Reformasi Tata Hukum Ganja Medis di Indonesia. Koalisi Adovkasi Untuk Narkotika.
Iffland, K. & Grotenhermen, F. (2017). An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol : A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies. 2, 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2016.0034
Jardim, C. & Delgado-Charro, M. B. (2025). The Regulatory Environment Surrounding Cannabis Medicines in the EU, the USA, and Australia. Pharmaceutics, 17(5), 635. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17050635
Kamil, M. & Sulistyanta, S. (2026). Pengaturan Ganja Medis dalam Hukum Pidana: Perbandingan Internasional dan Implikasinya bagi Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 6(1), 41–46. https://journal.publication-center.com/index.php/ijssh/article/view/2026
Kartika, A., Wahyuni, W. & Marsella. (2025). Analisis Yuridis Terhadap Status Cannabidiol (CBD) dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 35 Tahun 2009 Untuk Pemanfaatan Kesehatan. Jurnal ISO: Jurnal Ilmu Sosial, Politik Dan Humaniora, 5(2), 15. https://doi.org/10.53697/iso.v5i2.2834
Kristiawan, G. & Trihastuti, N. (2025). Analisis Yuridis Mengenai Penggunaan Ganja Demi Terpenuhinya Rasa Keadilan Masyarakat Indonesia di Bidang Kesehatan. 7(3), 1091–1201. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31933/unesrev.v7i3.2387
Legal, I. L., Khan, D. & Landwehr, O. (2023). Challenges for the Regulation of Cannabis under European Law I . Background. 18(1), 89–99.
Liu, S. (2015). Law’s Social Forms: A Powerless Approach to the Sociology of Law. Law & Social Inquiry, 40(01), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1111/lsi.12105
Lohman, D. & Barrett, D. (2020). Scheduling Medicines as Controlled Substances: Addressing Normative and Democratic Gaps Through Human Rights-Based Analysis. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 20(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12914-020-00231-1
Martinelli, A. (2024). 57 countries have legalized the medical use of marijuana. TheMarijuanaHerald.Com. https://themarijuanaherald.com/2024/06/57-countries-have-legalized-medical-marijuana/
Marzuki, P. M. (2017). Penelitian Hukum. Prenada Media.
Marzuki, P. M. (2022). Teori Hukum. Kencana.
Mayor, S. (2020). NEWS WHO proposes rescheduling cannabis to allow medical applications. 574(February 2019), 2019. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l574
McGregor, I. S., Cairns, E. A., Abelev, S., Cohen, R., Henderson, M., Couch, D., Arnold, J. C. & Gauld, N. (2020). Access to cannabidiol without a prescription: A cross-country comparison and analysis. International Journal of Drug Policy, 85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102935
Mills, J. H. (2016). The IHO as actor: The case of cannabis and the single convention on narcotic drugs 1961. Hygiea Internationalis, 13(1), 95–115. https://doi.org/10.3384/hygiea.1403-8668.1613195
Nabil, M. (2023). Kajian Yuridis Terhadap Narkotika Golongan I untuk Kebutuhan Medis dan Pelayanan Kesehatan di Tinjau dari Putusan Mahkamah Konsitusi Nomor 106/PUU-XVIII/2020. Lex Administratum, 12(5), 1–9. https://ejournal.unsrat.ac.id/v3/index.php/administratum/article/view/50772
Nasution, B. J. (2017). Kajian Filosofis tentang Hukum dan Keadilan dari Pemikiran Klasik Sampai Pemikiran Modern. Al-Ihkam: Jurnal Hukum & Pranata Sosial, 11(2), 247. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-ihkam.v11i2.936
Pangaribuan, A. M. A. & Kelly, M. (2019). Causes and Consequences of The War on Marijuana in Indonesia. 9(2). https://doi.org/10.15742/ilrev.v9n2.502
Pearce, A. R. (2022). Evaluating Wrongness Constraints on Criminalisation. Criminal Law and Philosophy, 16(1), 57–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11572-020-09550-9
Prassetyo, E. D. (2022). Legalisasi Ganja Medis (Analisis Putusan MK Nomor 106/PUU-XVIII/2020). Jurnal Analisis Hukum, 5(2), 147–162. https://doi.org/10.38043/jah.v5i2.3735
Risano, A. & Ningtias, A. D. (2023). Criminal Policy Reform of Cannabis use for Medical Purposes in Indonesia Based on the Consideration of the Single Convention on Narcotics 1961. 828–833.
Triyatna, A. A. G., Dewi, P. E. T. & Dewi, C. I. D. L. (2024). Juridical Analysis of the Regulations on the Use of Cannabis for Medical Purposes in Indonesia (A Comparative Study with Thailand). Jurnal Hukum Prasada, 11(1), 31–36. https://doi.org/10.22225/jhp.11.1.2024.31-36
Umpreecha, C., Bhalang, K., Charnvanich, D. & Luckanagul, J. (2023). Efficacy and safety of topical 0.1% cannabidiol for managing recurrent aphthous ulcers: a randomized controlled trial. In BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (Vol. 23, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-023-03886-0
Walsh, J. & Jelsma, M. (2019). Regulating Drugs: Resolving Conflicts with the UN Drug Control Treaty System. Journal of Illicit Economies and Development, 1(3), 266–271. https://doi.org/10.31389/jied.23
Yamin, A. E. (2024). The Right to Health Under International Law and Its Relevance to the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 95(7), 1156–1161. https://doi.org/10.2105/ AJPH.2004.055111
Yohan, G. A., Sugiartha, I. N. G. & Sudibya, D. G. (2022). Tindak Pidana terhadap Pelaku Penanaman Pohon Ganja Secara Ilegal Berdasarkan Putusan Pengadilan Negeri Sanggau Nomor 111/Pid. Sus/2017/Pn. Sag. Jurnal Interpretasi Hukum, 3(2), 309–314. https://doi.org/10.22225/juinhum.3.2.5072.309-314
Young-Wolff, K. C., Does, M. B., Mian, M. N., Sterling, S. A., Satre, D. D., Campbell, C. I., Silver, L. D., Alexeeff, S. E., Cunningham, S. F., Asyyed, A. & Altschuler, A. (2024). Clinician perspectives on adolescent cannabis-related beliefs and behaviors following recreational cannabis legalization. Addictive Behaviors, 156(limit 3500), 108046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108046
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24198/sosiohumaniora.v27i2.66532
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sosiohumaniora

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Sosiohumaniora Indexed By:
Creation is distributed below Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Published By:
Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran
Dean's Building 2nd Floor, Jalan Ir. Soekarno Km. 21 Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363
Email: [email protected]















