Pena Justisia: Media Komunikasi dan Kajian Hukum
Vol. 24 No. 2 (2025): Pena Justisia

A Comparative Legal Study of Indonesia’s Narcotics Law No. 35 of 2009 and Canada’s Cannabis Regulations SOR/2018-144 on Medical Cannabis Regulation

Bima Guntara (Faculty of Law, Pamulang University, Banten, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Dec 2025

Abstract

Cannabis has long been subject to strict legal control due to its psychoactive properties and potential for abuse, while at the same time attracting increasing attention for its potential medical applications. This study examines the legal regulation of medical cannabis through a comparative analysis of Indonesia’s Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics and Canada’s Cannabis Regulations SOR/2018-144. The research addresses two main issues: first, how medical cannabis is regulated under the respective legal frameworks of Indonesia and Canada; and second, how Indonesia’s institutional approach, particularly through the National Narcotics Agency, responds to medical cannabis needs in comparison with Canada’s regulatory model. This study employs normative legal research using statutory and comparative approaches, supported by legal literature and relevant institutional data. The findings indicate that Indonesia adopts a prohibition-based approach by classifying cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic, thereby excluding its use for medical purposes on the basis of abuse prevention and public health protection. In contrast, Canada recognizes the medical use of cannabis and regulates it through a comprehensive licensing, distribution, and supervision system involving healthcare professionals. The comparative analysis highlights fundamental differences in legal priorities, regulatory design, and institutional responses, demonstrating how public health considerations and risk management are addressed differently within each legal system. These findings provide insight into the regulatory implications of divergent legal approaches to medical cannabis within contemporary narcotics law.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

hk

Publisher

Subject

Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice

Description

Pena Justisia aims to provide a forum for lecturers and researchers to publish the original articles about Law Science. Focus of Pena Justisia is publishing the manuscript of outcome study, and conceptual ideas which specific in the sector of Law science. We are interested in topics which relate ...