American arrested in Bali for liquid marijuana possession says he needs them to treat his cancer

JPC, 47, is an American who was arrested on July 28, 2022, in Badung for alleged liquid marijuana possession. Photo: Obtained.
JPC, 47, is an American who was arrested on July 28, 2022, in Badung for alleged liquid marijuana possession. Photo: Obtained.

A middle-aged American man was arrested in Badung by Bali police for possession of seven bottles of liquid marijuana. 

He told the authorities that he is a cancer patient and needs marijuana extract for treatment.

The 47-year-old Californian, identified only by his initials JPC, was arrested by the Denpasar Police last Thursday at his residence in Dalung, North Kuta. The law enforcers found seven bottles that they suspected to contain liquefied cannabis that was delivered from Thailand.

Denpasar Police Chief Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said today that the authorities received a notification from the customs office, which led to the arrest last week.

To the police, JPC admitted that the seven bottles were part of the second shipment of the goods to the Island of Gods, where he has resided on-and-off in the past two years.

“We’re still investigating [the network],” Bambang added.

JPC told the authorities that he has been suffering from cancer for five years, and thus needs the liquid cannabis for treatment. Bambang, however, said that JPC did not provide the authorities with any evidence to back his claim.

Despite ongoing studies on cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as cancer treatment, Indonesian law still categorizes any form of marijuana and its derivatives as illegal (for now, at least).  

Under Indonesian law, JPC may face up to 12 years behind bars if proven guilty.



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