{"id":3300,"date":"2025-04-14T09:07:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T06:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/?p=3300"},"modified":"2025-04-14T09:09:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T06:09:17","slug":"if-the-government-of-a-country-neglects-its-people-and-their-path-the-people-will-turn-to-themselves-and-determine-their-own-way-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nottoday.media\/en\/activism\/if-the-government-of-a-country-neglects-its-people-and-their-path-the-people-will-turn-to-themselves-and-determine-their-own-way-part-i","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIf the government of a country neglects its people and their path, the people will turn to themselves and determine their own way.\u201d Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We are starting a series of articles about prisons around the world and everything related to them, from prison hierarchies to successful escape attempts. Our first stop will be Indonesia, a country with serious human rights problems, including a ban on marijuana that is causing significant hardship for Indonesian society.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


In the first part of our article, Black Paper (name changed – ed.)<\/em>, an Indonesian student who is currently under arrest, shared with Nottoday his story of detention and answered questions such as: why hasn’t marijuana been legalized in Indonesia yet? What are the penalties for its possession and use? What happens behind the walls of Indonesian prisons? And how can one come to anarchist views while under arrest? \u2014 Yes, Black Paper, having been behind bars, became fascinated with anarchist ideas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answers to these questions will be supplemented by the Indonesian independent music scene, as it has had a significant social-political impact on young people in Indonesia, bringing them not only knowledge about social issues and where they come from, but also, if only for a time, freedom in its strings and beats on plastic drums. However, more details about this will be provided in the second part of our material.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answers to these questions will be supplemented by the independent Indonesian music scene, as it has had a significant socio-political impact on young people in Indonesia. Beyond providing knowledge about social issues and their origins, it has also given them, if only temporarily, a sense of freedom through their strings and the beats of plastic drums. However, we will delve into this in more detail in the second part of our material.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Black Paper, student in Indonesia<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 What is your story? What circumstances have led to your arrest?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 I am a student at a private university in Indonesia. I was detained by the National Narcotics Agency for possession of 2 kilograms of marijuana. According to Indonesian law, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, so anyone who possesses or distributes it faces imprisonment.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I support myself and pay for my own education. Sometimes I take on part-time jobs to cover my daily expenses, but working affects my studies, leaving me with no time for them. That\u2019s why I thought about selling marijuana to pay for my education, as tuition fees in Indonesia are high while the quality of education is not good enough to truly support you in life\u2014especially at the university where I study.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the main question that interests me in this whole story is: why does Indonesia not dare to explore marijuana for medical purposes? It could fundamentally change the situation in the country. I believe the reason lies in competition with the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Illustration by Volha<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 What do you mean by competition with the pharmaceutical business?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 It is obvious that there is business interference in the pharmaceutical industry because if marijuana becomes legal in Indonesia and is used for medical purposes, the sale of pharmaceutical drugs will decrease. After all, marijuana grown in Indonesia\u2014where the climate allows it to be of high quality\u2014would clearly be a better medicine than the drugs currently offered by pharmaceutical companies. This would threaten their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 I suppose marijuana is a popular drug in Indonesia, as it is around the world. Do many people smoke it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Yes, marijuana is widely used in Indonesia, but you can get arrested for it. If marijuana is legalized in Indonesia, Indonesians will definitely switch to herbal medicine instead of pharmaceuticals that are currently available in the country. I am sure many agree and as a result will demand decriminalization and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, not to mention its full legalization, it is only a matter of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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