Riyadh Fakhruddin: Leading Indonesia’s Cannabis Movement into a New Era

Article and photo submitted by LGN.

In the shifting landscape of drug policy reform, Indonesia remains one of the most resistant frontiers. Cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I narcotic under the 2009 Narcotics Law, a status that places it in the same category as heroin and methamphetamine. The law insists the plant has “no medical benefit,” and those who cultivate, possess, or distribute it face severe prison terms.

Against this backdrop, the Lingkar Ganja Nusantara (LGN), or the Indonesian Cannabis Circle, has been a lone voice of advocacy. Founded more than a decade ago by Dhira Narayana, the organization has long fought to challenge stigma and push the conversation toward science, health, and human rights. 

Now, LGN has entered a new chapter under the leadership of Riyadh Fakhruddin, who was recently appointed as Chairperson.

“Cannabis in Indonesia has always been treated as a symbol of criminality,” Fakhruddin says. “But behind the stigma, there are patients in pain, families who cannot access safe treatment, and a society that deserves honest research.”

The timing of his leadership is both urgent and precarious. Indonesia is witnessing a rise in public debate around cannabis’ potential for medical use. Mothers of children with epilepsy have taken their cases to court. Activists are pressing parliament for legal reform, and doctors have begun cautiously acknowledging the therapeutic benefits seen abroad. In 2023, even the National Narcotics Board admitted that research into cannabis could be possible under strict regulation—a statement that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

Yet, progress remains slow. While dozens of countries worldwide have legalized cannabis for medical purposes, Indonesia clings tightly to prohibition. Human rights groups argue that this refusal not only denies patients access to treatment but also criminalizes people disproportionately from marginalized communities.

For Fakhruddin, the challenge is to transform LGN from a grassroots protest movement into a credible policy actor. His vision is to bring the debate onto firmer scientific ground by pushing for locally led research, in partnership with universities and medical professionals. 

“We cannot simply import policies from abroad,” he explains. “We need Indonesian data, Indonesian patients, and Indonesian doctors leading the way. Only then can society and lawmakers take this seriously.”

At the same time, he is aware of the cultural sensitivities that make the issue explosive. Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, and moral arguments often dominate drug policy debates. For Fakhruddin, the path forward lies in reframing cannabis not as a cultural or recreational question, but as a matter of health and compassion.

There are signs that public attitudes are shifting. A 2022 survey conducted by an independent research institute in Jakarta found that nearly half of respondents supported medical cannabis if prescribed by a doctor. Social media campaigns by LGN and allied groups have amplified patient stories, bringing new empathy into the national conversation.

Still, obstacles remain formidable. The parliament has shown little appetite for reform, and political leaders often conflate cannabis with broader fears of drug abuse. Without legal frameworks, there is no infrastructure for safe production, distribution, or prescription—a vacuum that fuels illicit markets and unsafe practices.

Despite this, Fakhruddin sees leadership as a responsibility rather than an opportunity. 

“This is not about me,” he insists. “It is about the thousands of Indonesians who deserve choices in their healthcare, and about building a future where policy is guided by science, not fear.”

For LGN, the road ahead will demand patience, diplomacy, and persistence. But with Riyadh at the helm, the movement appears determined to outgrow its reputation as a fringe campaign and position itself as a legitimate stakeholder in Indonesia’s health and human rights debate.

If Indonesia ever moves toward recognizing cannabis as medicine, history may look back at this moment—and this leadership transition—as a turning point.