HP may make cannabis legal for indl use: Min

Shimla: Himachal revenue, horticulture and tribal development minister Jagat Singh Negi, who heads a committee to recommend non-narcotic use of cannabis, has hinted said that the state government was considering all aspects to start cultivation of cannabis for industrial and non-narcotic use. Moreover, the committee, constituted by Himachal Pradesh government, has also visited the Aromatic Plant Centre at Shailakui in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Negi said that during the visit to the Aroma Plant Centre, the committee obtained detailed information on various aspects for starting cannabis cultivation and technical information has also been obtained from various experts. He said that cannabis cultivation not only ensures livelihood but can also be used for industrial and medicinal purposes on a large scale.
During the visit, the director of the centre, Nripendra Chauhan, apprised the committee about various technical aspects through virtual presentation. He said that in the year 2022, the global market of industrial hemp was about Rs 5,600 crore, which is expected to increase to about Rs 15,000 crore by the year 2027.
Earlier, the committee also obtained information regarding the state-of-the-art plant nursery, cultivation of medicinal plants, and aromatic flowers in the center. The members of the committee also deliberated on the draft prepared by the Plant Center to legalize cannabis cultivation.
The committee will seek information about the experiences of farmers of Uttarakhand cultivating cannabis.