Sheelavathi: This ganja variety now costs Rs 1.2 lakh per kg in the black market

Prices of Sheelavathi, a strain of ganja, have soared to a whopping Rs 1.2 lakh per kg in the black market. According to a report by the Times of India, prices of the contraband soared owing to security checkpoints set up at state borders during the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Called Sheelavathi, the contraband has recently overtaken the Malana Cream variety from Himachal Pradesh in popularity in the illegal market. It is mainly grown in the Andhra-Odisha border (AOB) region.

As per reports, the ganja strain has garnered many buyers in northern regions. Owing to its popularity, organized drug syndicates have been taking significant risks to move this contraband in the past few months, TOI reported.


Drug peddlers procure Sheelavathi from cultivators for prices ranging between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 per kg. By the time it reaches its handlers in cities like Vizag, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and other parts of the country, the price has increased several times.

Historically, Sheelavathi was cultivated in various parts of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh, bordering Odisha. However, due to strict enforcement measures, its cultivation is now limited to Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Odisha, as well as select areas of the ASR district.

Sheelavathi, Idukki Gold, and Mysore Mango are popular varieties of cannabis in India. However, 80 percent of weed seized in the country now is said to be of the Sheelavathi variety. As per the TOI report, the price of 1 kg of hash oil (liquid ganja) now costs between Rs 10 lakh to 15 lakh.