In India there has been lots of discussions whether consuming weed legal or not. A lot of individuals particularly youngsters wanted to know if it is legal, partially legal, or completely illegal to consume Weed. To answer this question, we need to look at the Indian Law, history and what people are discussing about weed today.
History and Culture:
Cannabis is an important element of Indian culture. For decades people have been eating bhang, specially during different celebrations like Holi and Shivratri. Ancient texts also included information about using it for medical and spiritual purposes. Due to this cultural acceptance, people sometimes get confused and don’t know whether it is legal or not.
The NDPS Act of 1985 is the law that governs this.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 is the main statute that regulates the cannabis in India. This law has made it illegal to have, use, trade or transport ganja (cannabis flower) and charas (cannabis resin). Depending on the quantity and the purpose the personal use or smuggling, penalties might be fines or jail time.
The Unique Situation of Bhang:
Cannabis leaves are not treated as a drug under the NDPS Act. Because of this bhang which is made from the plant’s leaves, is legal in many states. Shops who have a license can publicly sell Bhang, Bhang-based drinks and desserts. This exemption only applies to bhang though but Charas and Ganja are still prohibited in all of India.
Ongoing Debate About Legalization:
There have been several discussions about making cannabis legal in the past few years. Supporters say that medical research, increasing industrial hemp and the revenue taxes might all help the economy. Many states are currently looking into industrial hemp.
Still many who are against it are worried about addiction, misuse, abuse and how it could impact public health. No state has made weed legal for recreational use even though there are a lot of debate about it.
Police and Punishments:
The police are still strictly following the NDPS Act. You can be in trouble with the law even if you only have a little bit of weed. A lot of youngsters get the law incorrect and believe that using drugs privately is safe but that’s absolutely not true. The punishments can be extremely severe, depending on the situation.
Conclusion:
In simple terms marijuana or weed is not legal in India. The NDPS Act continues to make ganja, charas and other types of cannabis illegal even though bhang is legal in different areas because of cultural aspect and legal exceptions. There are still proposals for using it for medical and industrial purposes only but there haven’t been any official changes for personal usage. Staying up with the law helps others be safe, aware and responsible.