HP contemplating to legalize hemp cultivation
3 min read
Can add to the economy of the State
Shimla, April 18 – Cannabis cultivation traces all the way up to 12,000 years ago, suggesting it was one of humanity’s oldest cultivated crops. It has thrived in its natural, outdoor habitat for aeon. Under the NDPS Act States are empowered to permit, by general or special order, the cultivation of hemp, only for obtaining fiber or seeds or for horticultural and medicinal purposes. The cultivation of cannabis for industrial purposes such as making industrial hemp or for horticultural use is legal in India. The National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances recognizes cannabis as a source of biomass, fiber, and high-value oil. It has played an important role in ancient cultures.
The Himachal Government is considering the legalization of cannabis cultivation. Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed to form of a panel to explore the possibility of the legal cultivation of cannabis as it would play a significant role in generating revenue for the state besides proving beneficial for the patients because of its medicinal properties and can be used for industrial purpose as well.
However, with the onset of prohibition, many growers were forced out-of-sight and behind closed doors. So the first truly indoor grow operations were founded, out of necessity. Indoor growing helped avoid law enforcement, opening new possibilities for innovation and technological advancement. At the same time, indoor cultivators realized they could grow cannabis with increased control, vigor, and specificity. In some of today’s legal states, growers are given a choice between cultivating cannabis indoors or outdoors.
Taking all this in consideration, the Chief Minister in a statement had said that the State Government was cautious about the potential increase in drug use and has formed a five-member committee of MLAs. The Committee will conduct a thorough study about each and every aspects related to cannabis cultivation in the State. The committee will visit areas where illegal cultivation of cannabis takes place and submit a report in a month and only on the basis of the report submitted by the committee the Government will take any decision, said the Chief Minister.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has categorically stated that the State Government will consider enacting a law after getting complete information on the use of cannabis leaves and seeds. The Central Government has also given legal status to the cultivation of cannabis in some districts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Apart from this, cannabis is also being cultivated in Uttarakhand for industrial use. Under the NDPS Act, the state has been given the right to cultivate cannabis and transport it.
The State Government would consider all aspects, including regulatory measures and will study other states that have legalized it before making a final call.
Cannabis cultivation has been kept under the legal purview in several states of the country. The neighbouring state of Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to legalize cannabis cultivation in the year 2017, while controlled cultivation of cannabis is also being done in some districts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, controlled cultivation of cannabis has been permitted in several European Union countries including Uruguay, Canada, USA, Austria, Belgium and the Czech Republic, added the Chief Minister.
It will be pertinent to mention here that The Parliament of India defined cannabis in the NDPS Act in the year 1985, under which a complete ban has been imposed on extracting the resin and flowers from the cannabis plant. But this law determines the method and extent of cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes. Section 10 (a) (iii) of the Act empowers the states to make rules regarding the cultivation of any cannabis plant, production, possession, transport, consumption, use and purchase and sale, consumption of cannabis (except charas).
