Step towards legalisation, Himachal Pradesh nod to study on cannabis cultivation

New Delhi: Paving the way for legalising cannabis cultivation for industrial, scientific and medicinal purposes, Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Friday approved the report of an expert committee and gave its nod for controlled cultivation pilot project by two agricultural universities.

The Sukhvinder Sukhu-led Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Friday approved a pilot study on cannabis cultivation to be jointly undertaken by Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur (in Kangra district) and Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture, Nauni (in Solan district).

The study will evaluate and recommend the future roadmap like what varieties should be grown in what quantities, optimal cultivation practices and potential applications in medicinal and industrial sectors. The Cabinet also designated agriculture department as the nodal department for this initiative.


Agriculture minister Chander Kumar said, "We have approved controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes, following the example of states like Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Only seeds with minimal intoxicating properties will be cultivated under strict monitoring."

In April 2023, the Himachal Pradesh government had constituted a committee under revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi to examine legalising the cultivation of cannabis/hemp (excluding charas) for medicinal, scientific, and industrial purposes under Sections 10 and 14 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, along with Rule 29 of the Himachal Pradesh, NDPS Rules. The committee studied controlled cultivation of cannabis for non-narcotic purposes in MP, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. The panel has estimated that the state could generate a revenue of ₹400-500 cr in the initial years alone.