Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, announced on friday that the state’s administration was thinking about legalising marijuana cultivation.
Marijuana cultivation would contribute significantly to the state’s ability to raise money. Also, due to its numerous medical characteristics, it would be advantageous to patients. It can also be utilised industrially, Mr. Sukhu remarked in Shimla.
The state administration has formed a team of five MLAs to look into cannabis cultivation because it is concerned about potential growth in drug use.
The committee will investigate all facets of cannabis cultivation within the state and will travel to sites where illegal crop cultivation takes place, according to the chief minister.
A report on the results will be delivered within a month. The government won’t decide on cannabis cultivation until the report’s finding are known.
Marijuana cultivation has been permitted in a number of states according to CM Sukhu. In 2017, the neighbouring state Uttarakhand became the first in the nation to legalise Marijuana cultivation.
In several parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, controlled farming is used. The restricted growing of cannabis has also been legalised in a number of nations, including Uruguay, Canada, the United States, Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic.
According to Chief Minister, before making a decision, the government would look at the strategies of other state have taken to legalise cannabis growing and take rule into account.
With the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985, the Parliament defined cannabis. The legal system forbids both the extraction of cannabis plant resin and its flower. Yet, this regulation establishes the manner and scale of cannabis growing for medical and research purposes.
State have the authority to enact law governing the cultivation of any cannabis plant, production, possession, transportation, consumption, Purchase, sale and use of cannabis under section10(a)(iii) of the act (except charas).
State have the authority to issue general or specific orders allowing the growing of hemp solely for the purpose of harvesting fibre, seeds, or horticultural reasons, according to Mr. Sukhu.
