Cannabis or Marijuana for the West, is known commonly as Charas, Ganja or Bhang in India. Of this the first two are illegal and bhang can be brought from government authorized shops only. This is what cannabis has been reduced to in India. The plant has been used since time immemorial for multitude of benefits. It finds numerous mention in the earliest Vedas and the Ayurvedic Samhitas as a medicinal and recreational herb.

Increased research and awareness about the Cannabis plant has proved that chemicals in cannabis, called Cannabinoids, are helpful in treating symptoms of illness, chronic diseases and disorders. Then why is this herb now banned in India?

Brief History of the Ban

Let’s backtrack a little to understand why cannabis is illegal in India. Since the early ‘60s, the USA was campaigning on a worldwide ban on all kinds of drugs (both hard and soft). India resisted this pressure because using Cannabis was a way of life for us.

However, in the 80’s the hippie culture and addiction to recreational cannabis reached an all new high the US. The country was grappling on how to handle this situation. The pressure to ban all kinds of drugs increased and we finally succumbed to it. The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi introduced the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Under this Act both Charas and Ganja were illegal and anyone found with them could be imprisoned for up to 20 years. Only Bhang was made legal and could be purchased from government authorized shops.

Cannabis Power

So, what has India gained from the Cannabis ban? Nothing! The ban is more of a bane. We are depriving a nation of the immense medical benefits of this herb. The cannabinoids found in Cannabis is a great healer. It can be used to treat a number of medical conditions like multiple sclerosis, arthritis, epilepsy, insomnia, HIV/AIDS treatment, cancer. In fact, it is seen that those undergoing agonizing treatment like that for cancer or HIV/AIDS find relief from the pain when they are given small doses of medical cannabis.

Is the benefit of cannabinoids from this plant only limited to medical uses? Well, it’s no again. You will be surprised to know that many high-end personal care products in the USA are infused with cannabis. Why? Cannabis has therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties, it is an antioxidant, anti-bacterial, produces lipids, offers UV protection. So the use of a cannabis-based product can help in cell regeneration, protect from UV rays, heal skin conditions like dry skin, treat acne, and regulate oil production by the sebaceous gland. The entourage effect of cannabis on the skin is incredible.

It is clear that Cannabis has a number of uses both internal and external. Then why is India still not legalizing the herb? Ironically 29 states in the US have legalized marijuana. While 9 states have legalized it for both medical and recreational use, the rest have approved the same for medical purposes alone. And this has had a direct positive impact on revenue and jobs.

Should India legalize Cannabis and why?

As a company who uses Hemp for production of beauty products, we only see legalizing Cannabis as a win-win situation for all. What are the gains you ask? Quite a few.

Firstly, legalizing Cannabis makes its production formal and open. It will stop the illegal trade and supply of the herb and kill the black market. Secondly, it gives many farmers an additional option of a crop. It is a known fact that when production of a substance increases so do allied businesses. More business needs manpower and improves job opportunities. What more? With increased production and sales and new tax structures that have been enforced in the country, legalizing Cannabis only means more revenue for the government.

Watching the growth of the Cannabis industry closely, we believe that it is on the verge of a world-wide growth. India is actually sitting on a pot of gold, because as a country we have immense knowledge about its use and favorable climatic conditions for its production. Legalizing Cannabis would mean that we can be a key player in this growth and carve a place for ourselves as a leader of Cannabis based products.

Given these plethora of reasons, it is time we considered legalizing the herb. And why wait for a better day, when we can do it now!

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