Dharam Prakash Gupta
As the Himachal Pradesh government is seriously pursuing a move to allow controlled cultivation of cannabis, illegally grown in the state for drug users, the move is fraught with a risk and several challenges.
Sukhvinder Sukhu led Congress government facing deep financial crunch is contemplating the issue for quite some time and a report prepared by the committee constituted by the state government to study the issue was placed in recently concluded monsoon session of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha.
According to an estimate nearly Rs 500 crore per annum can be generated through controlled cultivation of cannabis in the state.
The issue of allowing controlled cultivation of cannabis has been debated in the state for several decades and even the previous BJP government headed by Jai Ram Thakur had worked seriously to legalize cannabis growing.
Certain areas of Himachal are quite notorious for illegal cultivation of cannabis, banned in the state under Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Act (NDPS Act) and people minting huge money by selling charas (Hash) to drug mafia in India and abroad.
Few areas of Kullu district like Manikaran valley, Kasol, Malana etc attract a large number of foreign tourists to buy the best quality hash available illegally in these areas.
Since there is huge money in illegal trade of hash, local and international mafias are operating as many local villagers are illegally growing cannabis in remote areas and even near snowlines.
The efforts of several anti-drug agencies like Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), Customs department and state police are proving inadequate to check the smuggling.
The voices to legalize cultivation of cannabis mainly started after 2002, when NCB and few other agencies started their operations in Kullu and Mandi areas against opium and cannabis grown in thousands of acres, plantation was destroyed and culprits booked under NDPS Act.
Since many families were involved in the illicit cultivation locals and even MLAs and MPs representing the area started vouching for legalizing cannabis cultivation for its use in traditional food and traditional craft.
Many people have been trying to propagate its medicinal use for curing certain patients suffering from cancer, epilepsy and as a chronic pain reliever, besides its use for industrial purposes.
But the task of allowing controlled cultivation of cannabis is a challenging job for the state government as it’s fraught with many risks. There is provision in the NDPS Act to allow controlled cannabis cultivation for scientific, medicinal and industrial purposes.
Since many areas in districts of Kullu, Mandi, Sirmaur, Shimla, Kangra and Chamba are suitable for cannabis cultivation it would be a big challenge for the state government to check smuggling. The state government will have to develop a full proof security system for the strict control.
As to who would carry the cultivation would be crucial to decide as mafia will always try to sneak.
Former convener of the committee formed by the previous BJP government to study controlled cultivation of cannabis, OP Sharma says, “The farmers who lost income after raids by NCB and other agencies should be given priority.”
Developing cannabis seed with 0.3 percent Delta -9 tetrahydrocannabinol will be a real challenge for the scientists of Horticulture and Agriculture universities.
Creating awareness and sensitizing local people would also be a big challenge for the state government.
The state government will have to face international pressure also due to worldwide anti- drug campaigns.
