The state government of Himachal Pradesh has decided to manage the growing of cannabis, sometimes referred to as hemp, for a number of restricted purposes. This judgment comes after a resolution passed on September 7 by the state legislature of Himachal Pradesh, known as the Vidhan Sabha. The decision, which seeks to modify the state’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Rules, 1985, is in line with suggestions made by a committee chaired by Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi.
The amendment will allow for the controlled production and consumption of cannabis for industrial, scientific, and medical uses in a regulated setting, with the exception of charas, a type of hashish. The state government’s authority under sections 10, 8, and 14 of the NDPS Act, 1985 makes the change possible. For these purposes, the production, manufacturing, possession, transportation, and sale of cannabis will be permitted under this legal change.
The new regulations state that certain requirements will apply to the cannabis cultivation. The group advised that cannabis be grown in open spaces and that its main uses be for horticulture or the extraction of fiber or seeds. It also underlined how important it is to create standard operating procedures for every step of the process, from product creation to cultivation.
The committee suggested setting up a state-level entity to supervise cannabis growing in order to efficiently handle this project. A single-window system would be established by this authority to manage tasks including procuring, distributing seeds, establishing industrial and medicinal units, and establishing seed banks. Research institutes and departments dealing with agriculture and horticulture, like Dr. YS Parmar University in Nauni and CSK Agriculture University in Palampur, should work together to create seed banks.
In order to guarantee appropriate oversight and control, the committee also suggested geotagging properties utilized for cannabis cultivation. The state government will also need to set aside money for initiatives aimed at capacity-building, public awareness, research, and development. In order to assist the excise department in overseeing this new structure, specialized personnel will be needed.
This committee was established on Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania’s recommendation and following a unanimous decision made during the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha. Study trips to places with regulated cannabis cultivation, such as Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, provided the committee members with valuable insights.
In conclusion, Himachal Pradesh is leading the way in regulated cannabis growing with the goal of maximizing the plant’s industrial and therapeutic benefits under strict control.
SOURCE :
TIMES OF INDIA
