Nepal’s Gandaki province legalizes medical cannabis farming and use

Nepal's Gandaki province has recently legalized the farming and use of marijuana for medical purposes, despite a national ban. This decision was endorsed by the Chief of Gandaki province and came into effect on Monday. According to Prabin Poudyal, spokesman for the office of the Chief of Gandaki Province, farmers will be required to obtain official permission from the provincial authorities and will be subject to close monitoring.

While the provincial law allows for the cultivation and medical use of cannabis, it is still illegal under national law. Possession of marijuana for personal use can lead to a month-long imprisonment, while distribution and sales could result in up to ten years of imprisonment, depending on the quantity seized. Gandaki province, located in the Himalayas and known for its famous mountains, hiking trails, and resort city of Pokhara, is also the birthplace of cannabis, which is widely used during Hindu festivals.

Despite marijuana's historical presence in Nepalese culture and religion, the country outlawed it in the late 1970s, pushing away hippies who had previously flocked to the nation. During the annual Shivaratri festival, celebrated in spring, devotees openly smoke cannabis at temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The authorities typically permit its use during the festival.