Citing the example set by countries like USA, Canada and Australia, Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has suggested legalising marijuana in India.

AFP

The suggestion was made by Mrs. Gandhi at a meeting of a group of ministers (GOM), which examined the draft cabinet note National Drug Demand Reduction Policy.

She suggested that such a move will help in curb drug abuse, something that countries where medical marijuana is legal has experienced.

AFP

"Some of the developed countries like the US, marijuana has been legalised which ultimately results in less drug abuse. The possibility of the same maybe explored in India", she told the GOM.

"Marijuana should be legalised for medical purposes, especially as it serves a purpose in cancer," the minister told PTI.

PTI

This is not the first time an Indian politician has batted for legalisation of cannabis in the country.

In December 2015, Lok Sabha MP from Odisha Tathagata Satpathy had suggested that weed should be legalised in the county as it could help fight alcohol addiction.

AFP

As of now countries like Uruguay, Chile, Australia, France, Romania, Colombia Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Canada, United States and Jamaica have legalised use of cannabis for medical purposes legal.

Many other countries are on their way to legalise or relax restrictions on the weed.

AFP

In India weed has remained illegal despite the high rate of consumption, especially in interior areas. In 2015 Uttarakhand government had decided to allow farmers to cultivation of hemp plants to be used for industrial purposes like in the manufacturing of fibre.

India is home to some of the most sought after marijuana variants in the international market like Malana hash and Idukki Gold.