Jakarta police accidentally get their neighbourhood high with marijuana bonfire

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Indonesian police sparked up a three-tonne pile of marijuana - and accidentally got the residents of West Jakarta high in the process.

According to the Jakarta Post, Palmerha police set fire to a 3.3-tonne heap of cannabis right outside their office, creating a giant cloud of smoke which then dispersed around the local area.

After being engulfed by the fumes, residents reportedly had headaches and felt "dizzy".

The police had anticipated the powerful plumes and protected themselves with gas masks before setting fire to the pile of drugs, but did not think to warn people that the potent smoke was about to descend on them.

Other passers-by said that the smell of marijuana in the area was "too strong" and overwhelmingly "tangy".

Several high level officials from the West Jakarta municipality were present when the pile was set on fire.

The weed haul was destroyed along with 1.8 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 2,538 ecstasy pills, which the police decided to blend.