The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has taken a landmark decision to legalize cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. This follows recommendations from an Assembly committee report highlighting the plant's economic potential for the state.
Jagat Singh Negi, Revenue Minister, and Assembly committee chair, detailed the report's findings and benefits. He explained that the initiative garnered bipartisan support and was extensively researched through consultations with local residents and studies of successful models in other states like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The overwhelming consensus was in favor of legalization.
Negi pointed out the practicality of cannabis cultivation, citing its low water requirements, resistance to animal damage, and disease resilience. He assured that industrial hemp would be drug-free, with controlled protocols for medicinal varieties under the NDPS Act. This move, he stressed, is about regulated, beneficial use rather than promoting drug consumption, supported by investor interest and stringent regulations.