CANNABIS - ENVIRONMENT
News: Himachal
Pradesh considering legalising cannabis cultivation, says CM Sukhvinder Singh
Sukhu
What's in the news?
● Himachal
Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the State government was
considering legalising the cultivation of cannabis.
Key takeaways:
● Cannabis
cultivation would play a significant role in generating revenue for the State.
● Besides,
it would be beneficial to patients as it has many medicinal properties. It can be used for industrial purposes as well.
Important stats:
● Uttarakhand became the
first State in the country to legalise cannabis
cultivation in 2017.
● Controlled
cultivation is being done in some
districts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
● Similarly,
controlled cultivation of cannabis has been permitted in several countries such
as Uruguay, Canada, the U.S.A., Austria,
Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Legal side of cannabis:
Cannabis as a narcotic drug:
● The
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985 defines cannabis (hemp) as a narcotic drug
based on the parts of the plant that come under its purview.
● Under
the law, a complete ban has been imposed on extracting the resin and flowers of
the cannabis plant. The Act lists these parts as:
○ Charas:
The separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from the cannabis
plant and also includes concentrated preparation and resin known as hashish oil
or liquid hashish.
○ Ganja: The
flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant.
○ Any
mixture, with or without any neutral material, of any of the above forms of
cannabis or any drink prepared therefrom.
● The
Act, in its definition, excludes seeds and leaves “when not accompanied by the
tops”.
Power to States:
● The
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985 determines the
method and extent of cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and scientific
purposes.
● Section
10 (a) (iii) of the Act empowers States
to make rules regarding the cultivation of any cannabis plant, production,
possession, transport, consumption, use, purchase, sale, and consumption of
cannabis (except charas).
● States
are empowered to permit, by general or special order, the cultivation of hemp,
only for obtaining fibber or seeds or for horticultural purposes.
Significance of allowed cultivation in cannabis:
● Legalisation
will curb crime.
● Cultural and Historical
Significance: In the Atharva-veda, the ‘bhang’
plant finds a notable mention as one of nature’s five sacred, distress-relieving
plants. During the festival of Holi, the consumption of bhang is an integral
part of the celebrations even today.
● Lesser
health risk when compared to alcohol.
● Business
and economic possibilities.
Issues:
● Cannabis
causes psychosis.
● Cannabis
has been engineered to become much more potent and addictive.
● It
also damages organs.