Tuesday,

9 August 2022 2:59 PM

Cannabis legalisation in India

It is a very accepted fact that India has largely been a conservative society from the very
beginning whether it is related to tradition or cultures . Similarly , the Indian society is
conservative when it comes to consuming most forms of intoxications. Though alcohol
consumption is looked down upon , but the country has been cannabis -friendly as far
back as 100 generations.
Cannabis refers to a group of three plants -cannabis sativa, cannabis Indica and cannabis
ruderalis . The dried flowers of these plants are most commonly referred to as “pot” by
some , and “marijauna” by others . Components of cannabinoids include cannabidiol
[CBD] and tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]. CBD is used to reduce inflammation and pain
along with its use in nausea, migraine ,seizures and anxiety . It is non euphoric , means it
wont get you ‘high’ whereas THC is associated with euphoria after consuming
cannabinoids . The effects of cannabis are a mix of the beneficial as well as concerning
effects . Short term desirable effects include relaxation , focus and increased
attention ,increased appetite , altered perception of time and events whereas the ill
effects include nausea , lethargy, anxiety , paranoia and decreased blood pressure . Long
term use tilts more towards the deteriorating mental condition , dependence , respiratory
problems ,etc .

With all these pros and cons , do you think cannabis is legal in India ? The answer is yes ,
but partially .
In 1961, the international treaty single convention on Narcotic Drugs classified cannabis
under hard drugs . After all the negotiations about Indian religious and social customs , the
government of India had to compromise and promised to limit the export of Indian hemp .
The final draft of the treaty defined cannabis as :
Flowering or fruiting tops of the cannabis plant [excluding the seeds and leaves when not
accompanied by the top]from which the resin has not been extracted ,by whatever name
they maybe designated

According to the definition , bhaang was not classified under cannabis as it was obtained
from the leaves of the plant . So India allowed to carry on the tradition of consumption of
bhaang on Holi festival . The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act , India ,was
passed in 1985 which banned the production and sale of cannabis resin and flowers but
permitted the use of leaves and the seeds.
Although NDPS allows consumption of bhaang , various states have their own regulations
relating its use and restrictions .While its use is completely banned in Assam, in
Maharashtra the possession and consumption of bhaang and bhaang containing
substances without a licence is a punishable offence .

Though cannabis is now legalised for its immense medicinal benefits , there is also a
human psyche which diverts more towards ruthless use of cannabinoids , especially
among the medical population , including the doctors and other healthcare
professionals ,chiefly because of easy accessibility to these people . Cannabinoids are thus
abused for euphoric effect , increasing concentration in studies and better performance ,
but in long run it may cause the opposite effect . It is also abused by the arts and
entertainment industry to a great extent and the main age group is the youth of any
country .There is a strong need for the youth to understand the detrimental effects of its
use ,predominantly because of undue fellow pressure or the curiosity and the desire to be
themselves . Otherwise ,enable it once and it will kill you.

— By Nikita Limje
Batch 2020