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Polity & Governance, Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

31/01/25 09:29 AM IST

Controlled cannabis cultivation

In News
  • Recently, the  Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved a pilot study by two universities on the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.
Controlled cannabis cultivation
  • It is the regulated cultivation of specific cannabis varieties having minimal intoxicating properties, along with strict monitoring to prevent misuse.
  • Such varieties are commonly known as hemp.
  • The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabinoid content (a kind of chemical that has an intoxicating effect) in controlled cannabis should be less than or equal to 0.3 per cent.
  • Under controlled cannabis cultivation, authorities focus on its non-narcotic applications, particularly in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors.
  • Hemp’s stalks, leaves, and seeds can also be converted into textile, paper, food, cosmetics, biofuel and more.
  • Additionally, cannabidiol (CBD) compounds in the plant are effective in treating chronic pain.
Law for cannabis cultivation
  • Cannabis cultivation is largely prohibited in India due to its psychoactive properties.
  • Section 2 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, prohibits the production and sale of cannabis resin and flowers.
  • It defines charas as the separated resin, in any form (crude or purified), obtained from the cannabis plant. It also includes concentrated preparations such as hashish oil or liquid hashish.
  • However, it provides exceptions for cannabis cultivation and use for industrial and medicinal purposes under government regulation.
  • Section 10 of the Act allows state governments to regulate, permit, or prohibit cannabis cultivation for medicinal and scientific purposes.
  • Section 14 grants the Central government the power to authorise and regulate cannabis cultivation for research or other approved purposes.
  • It states, “The government may, by general or special order and subject to specified conditions, allow the cultivation of cannabis plants for industrial purposes, specifically for obtaining fiber or seed, or for horticultural purposes.
Challenges
  • Drawing from Uttarakhand’s experience as the first state to allow controlled cannabis cultivation in 2018, the committee noted several challenges.
  • One major issue was maintaining the government-mandated THC limit of 0.3 per cent. Officials from Uttarakhand’s Excise Department, and those in the industry, said obtaining seeds capable of consistently producing plants with THC under this threshold was difficult.
  • Cross-pollination in the plants further complicated efforts to maintain THC levels.
  • Other challenges included the need for greater awareness and training among officials and stakeholders, the shortage of skilled manpower, the requirement to establish specialised laboratories for high-quality seed development and an effective regulatory mechanism.
Source- Indian Express

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