Govt. Plans to Legalize Use of Cannabis for Medical Purposes

Sunder Singh Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), stated that the Himachal government is working to legalize cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. He added that the government would develop a cannabis cultivation policy to provide farmers with additional income. He presided over the opening ceremony of the Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla, a three-day training workshop at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali. According to HFRI Director Dr. Sandeep Sharma, approximately 800 medicinal plant species have been discovered in Himachal Pradesh, with 165 being traded.

He also stated that 60 medicinal plant species were threatened by over-exploitation. He emphasized the importance of scientific cultivation and the long-term harvesting of medicinal plants.

The Union Ministry of Environment sponsored the workshop. The workshop is attended by approximately 30 people from Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu, Koti, and Pujarli in Shimla, as well as teachers, panchayat representatives, Mahila Mandal and Yuva Mandal members, bank officials, and NGOs.

Cannabinoids may alleviate pain by altering pain perception pathways in the brain. This may be beneficial in the treatment of chronic pain conditions such as:

Arthritis

Endometriosis

Migraine

It may also reduce the side effects of cancer treatment, such as loss of appetite.

Medical Cannabis has been reported in some cases to help replace the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, which can have negative side effects.

The Union Ministry of Environment sponsored the workshop. The workshop is attended by approximately 30 people from Lahaul and Spiti, Kullu, Koti, and Pujarli in Shimla, as well as teachers, panchayat representatives, Mahila Mandal and Yuva Mandal members, bank officials, and NGOs.