TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Narcotics Agency Province (BNNP) of Aceh stated that the number of narcotics users in this westernmost province of Indonesia has reached more than 80,000 individuals, with the majority being marijuana users.
"The narcotics users or those exposed to narcotics in Aceh are approximately 80,000 individuals or around 1.7 percent of the population of Aceh," said the Head of BNNP Aceh, Marzuki Ali Basyah, in Aceh Besar, as quoted from Antara, Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Marzuki Ali Basyah made this statement during the opening of the Berdikari Tani program in Gampong Leungah, Seulimuem District, Aceh Besar Regency. He mentioned that out of the 80,000 individuals in Aceh who are exposed to narcotics, 80 percent are exposed to marijuana.
"Therefore, do not be proud when it is said that Aceh's marijuana is the greatest in the world. However, the Aceh generation has started using narcotics starting from marijuana," he said.
Marzuki mentioned that during his time in school, narcotics users were mostly from the upper class. However, now, those who do not have money also use narcotics. "Starting with a bit of ecstasy, a bit of crystal meth. Later, if they have more money, they use a bit more and it becomes cocaine, heroin. And all narcotics users use mainly crystal meth and 70 percent of them are insane and poor," he said.
The Dangers of Marijuana
Many people use marijuana or cannabis sativa to make them feel relaxed or very happy (high). Marijuana is often smoked like a pipe or rolled cigarette. Additionally, some also use marijuana as a food ingredient or brew it into tea.
What are the dangers of marijuana or cannabis? In excessive doses, it has negative impacts on the body. What are the effects?
1. Lungs
According to some studies, the tar content in marijuana is almost three times higher than in tobacco. Furthermore, marijuana smoke is also suspected to contain 70 percent more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke.
Therefore, the risk of developing lung cancer is higher, especially with prolonged marijuana use, although this still requires further research. If you smoke a mix of marijuana and tobacco, the risk of lung disease will be higher.
2. Brain
Prolonged marijuana use can cause disturbances in thinking ability, memory loss, and hinder brain function. MRI brain scans have shown structural changes in certain parts of the brains of long-term marijuana users. These changes also affect brain performance.
3. Mental health
Regularly smoking marijuana is suspected to worsen or increase the risk of relapse of psychotic symptoms (psychosis) in schizophrenia patients.
Furthermore, the effects of marijuana can also cause hallucinations (seeing things that are not really there), delusions (believing and being convinced of things that are not true), anxiety, and panic attacks.
Long-term marijuana use can also lead to withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, mood changes, and loss of appetite.
4. Circulatory system
After smoking marijuana, your heart rate will increase by 20-50 beats per minute.
These effects can last for up to three hours. For individuals with heart disease, this faster heart rate can increase the risk of a heart attack.
Furthermore, marijuana can also cause a short-term increase in blood pressure, risk of bleeding, and make the eyes red due to dilated blood vessels.
5. Digestive system
Smoking marijuana can cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat.
Consuming marijuana orally can cause nausea and vomiting. However, in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the effects of marijuana are seen to alleviate symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
6. Immune system
Marijuana can weaken the immune system. Studies have also shown a link between marijuana use and an increased risk of diseases that can weaken the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS. As a result, the body becomes increasingly difficult to fight infections.
The Pro and Contra of Medical Marijuana
The use of medical marijuana raises pro and contra in various countries, including Indonesia. However, this plant is known to have benefits in the medical field. As reported by Harvard Health Publishing, marijuana has more than 100 active components. The plant extract called CBD (cannabidiol) is usually used in treatment.
This also has slightly intoxicating properties because it has little or even no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the chemical that causes the 'fly' sensation when people consume marijuana.
Benefits of medical marijuana
As reported by WebMD, researchers are studying the use of medical marijuana for a number of conditions, including:
- Alzheimer's disease;
- Appetite loss;
- Cancer;
- Crohn's disease;
- Immune system-affecting diseases like HIV/AIDS or multiple sclerosis (MS);
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia;
- Epilepsy;
- Glaucoma;
- Mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder);
- Muscle spasms;
- Nausea;
- Pain;
- Seizures;
- Wasting syndrome (cachexia).
However, Marcel Bonn-Miller, a substance abuse expert at the Perelman University of Pennsylvania Medical School, stated that there is no strong evidence that marijuana can treat these conditions.
Nevertheless, marijuana has a therapeutic effect. The largest evidence of the therapeutic effect of marijuana is related to its ability to reduce chronic pain, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, and muscle tension due to MS.
Additionally, limited research shows the effects of active chemical compounds in medical marijuana called cannabinoids, which are:
- Reducing anxiety;
- Reducing inflammation and relieving pain;
- Controlling nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy;
- Killing cancer cells and slowing tumor growth;
- Relaxing tense muscles in people with MS;
- Stimulating appetite and increasing weight in cancer and AIDS patients.
Meanwhile, medical marijuana also helps control seizures. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a CBD drug called Epidiolex in 2018.
This drug is used to treat chronic seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The FDA has also approved two other human-made cannabinoid drugs, dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros) and nabilone (Cesamet), to treat nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy.
However, medical marijuana is reported to have side effects, such as red eyes, depression, dizziness, rapid heart rate, hallucinations, and low blood pressure. Additionally, it also affects judgment and coordination, which can lead to accidents and injuries.
Amelia Rahima contributed to the writing of this article.
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