Cannabis: The Forbidden Medicine
By: Sanya Gupta
Tags: Marijuana Legalization, Cbd Oil Products, Cannabis, Legalization, Cannabis Medical

Cannabis sativa, the plant from which all the products from cannabis are derived

Cannabis sativa is a plant not known by many, but whose forms namely, marijuana, hash, bhang, hemp are much used and renowned amongst the Indian population as well as globally. The term “cannabis” covers all the products derived from the plant. The history of India has witnessed the use of cannabis for both recreational as well as medicinal purposes. Both the elite sections of the society as well as the civilians consumed its various forms. It had and still has had a remarkable presence across the spiritual aspect of the country. In Hinduism, one of the earliest mentions of cannabis has been found in the Atharva Veda, lauding it for curing diseases and that it also fought demons. The consumption of this plant is so deeply embedded in the Hindu traditions that one of the principal deities of Hinduism, Shiva is often associated with bhaang, one of the forms of cannabis.

Yet the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985, which was a successor of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930, criminalised the buying and selling of various forms of cannabis which contain the majority amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While the consumption of CBD oil and bhaang is legal in some parts of India to some extent, there are more than 100 other substances; the use of which has been criminalised, completely overlooking their medicinal properties. They help treat anxiety, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS symptoms, Multiple Sclerosis, side effects of Chemotherapy, PTSD, amongst various other minute pains.

Medical marijuana

Marijuana or weed is one of the most controversial substances extracted from the leaves, stems, seeds of the plant. THC is one of its major components with intoxicating components. Medical marijuana is known to treat various illnesses as well, namely, anorexia, sleep problems, Tourette syndrome, etc.

Despite the ban on their consumption, cannabis, marijuana and hash are sold widely in the country by various minor and major offenders. The drug is very easily accessible to the youth, the biggest buyers of the drug. Even if we overlook the enormous amount of medicinal usefulness cannabis brings, the economic boost that its sale would give India also cannot be ignored. According to a recent survey, around 30 million people in India admitted to consuming cannabis in some form or the other for various purposes. Now with such mass consumption already going on, the government could generate heavy revenues from the taxation on such products, as it does from tobacco and liquor. Cannabis sativa is a plant that is very easy to cultivate, meaning that growing it can also be another source of income for the thousands of farmers that constitute the primary sector of India’s economy.

India has the potential and resources to become one of its major exporters. This could give India a much needed economic boost, both domestically and internationally. Depression, anxiety and PTSD are a few mental illnesses already being treated by CBD oils.

There is no doubt that marijuana does have its risks, much like alcohol and tobacco. There are a few concerns that cannot be disregarded. The problem of addiction would arise and should be treated through the Drug De-Addiction Programme. Adolescents could be vulnerable to the substance. Strict regulations must be a part of the law legalising marijuana. Moreover, the government would also be able to control the quality of the substance in the market, preventing any cheap quality being sold and consumed. Overconsumption of liquor is responsible for the deaths of a large number of people, while there has not been a single recorded death due to the overuse of marijuana. Illegalisation is necessary to regulate the use of the drug and a similar approach has to be adopted for cannabis, that is currently used for other addictive products.

Canada legalised cannabis on a federal level in 2020.

India’s stance on this topic is quite confusing. Though while various laws are prohibiting the drug, India recently voted in favour of the UN Drugs Convention to remove cannabis from the world’s most dangerous drug category. Marijuana is getting legalised in segments globally. Canada, Colombia, Austria,Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and South Africa have legalised the drug on a federal level, while 15 states in the United States of America have legalised cannabis individually. Under the Biden government, the USA also anticipates the complete legalisation of the drug.

Various pro-cannabis movements have grown popular worldwide. The Great Legalisation Movement in India is a non-profit research organisation that works solely for the cannabis legalisation in the country. Using the power of social media, India’s first female Cannabis activist under the name of ‘Hempvati’ works for the same initiative.

It’s about time that we move forward from the social stigma and taboo that surrounds the topic of marijuana or cannabis, and take a step towards an unprejudiced India.

All images sourced from Google.