Manali: Senior BJP leader Maheshwar Singh has sent an open letter to chief minister Jai Ram Thakur to legalize cannabis cultivation in Himachal, which would not only generate employment but would also stop illegal trade of its contraband products like charas.

While there is strict law for cultivation of cannabis, which is grown to make charas and other psychotropic products, the three-time MP and three-time MLA Maheshwar Singh is favouring its cultivation for a long time. He said cannabis plants have medicinal properties and can treat even cancer. If grown in controlled atmosphere, under the supervision of government, not only poor residents of higher regions would earn good income but also can generate self-employment for a large number of youth.

Maheshwar Singh said when other countries and Indian states benefit from cannabis, why not people of Himachal where cannabis is one of the major weeds. “There are nearly 15 countries where cannabis production is legal. Uttarakhand and UP governments too have legalized cannabis cultivation. In Himachal, it grows wildly everywhere. We can use it to make life saving medicines. Its hemp can be used to make high quality cloth. I have learned that the hemp is used even in the fuselage of aircraft to give it strength,” he said.

He added that he had raised this issue in the Lok Sabha as well. He said Himachal government should also consider this. “Here I am supporting cannabis cultivation for its proven life saving medicinal property and chance to generate employment. The government can issue licences to the grower and can control its production. Growers will get good profit from it and nobody will think about charas production.”

Every year Himachal police register hundreds of cases under NDPS Act for cultivation of cannabis and smuggling of charas. Police run cannabis destruction campaigns with help of local residents.

