The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday passed a significant resolution to legalise cannabis cultivation, following the recommendations of an Assembly committee report.

This decision follows the recommendations of a committee led by Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who also chaired the Assembly’s panel on the subject.

The idea was initially brought up in the Assembly under Rule 130, with support from both ruling and opposition members. A committee was then formed to explore the feasibility of cannabis cultivation, and the resolution was passed based on the panel’s findings.

“The committee visited all the districts of Himachal Pradesh and consulted local residents on how cannabis cultivation could be used for medicinal and industrial purposes. We also studied the successful models in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. The overwhelming consensus was in favour of legalising it in Himachal Pradesh,” Negi said.

Negi highlighted the practicality of cannabis as a crop, noting that it requires minimal water, is resistant to animal damage, and is largely disease-free. Industrial hemp will be drug-free, containing negligible levels of THC, while medicinal cannabis will be strictly regulated, similar to opium cultivation under the NDPS Act.

He further mentioned that industrial cannabis farming can be a viable option for regions where traditional crops are difficult to grow due to water shortages or interference from wildlife. Investors have already shown interest in industrial hemp, and the state plans to implement strict regulations to oversee medicinal cannabis cultivation and prevent misuse.

(ani)