Legalising Marijuana in India

Why in news?

Women and Child Development Minister has suggested legalising marijuana in India for medical purposes.

What is Marijuana?

• Marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical, recreational & religious purposes.
• Cannabis can be used by smoking, vaporization, within food, or as an extract.
• It creates mental and physical effects, such as a "high" or "stoned" feeling, a general change in perception, and an increase in appetite.
• Short term side effects may include a decrease in short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired motor skills, red eyes, and feelings of paranoia or anxiety.
• Long term side effects may include addiction, decreased mental ability and behavioural problems in children whose mothers used cannabis during pregnancy.

What is its historic significance in India?

• Cannabis has been used since ancient times in India, dating back to 2000 BCE.
• The cannabis plant has been mentioned as one of the five sacred plants in the Vedas.
• Bhang, an edible preparation of cannabis, which is ‘consumed either in the form of a drink or smoked’ is common during the Hindu festivals of Holi and Mahashivaratri.

What are its medicinal qualities?

• There has been no rigorous scientific testing of the medicinal properties of cannabis due to restrictive laws.
• There is considerable evidence though, supporting its use in the treatment of chemotherapy - induced nausea and vomiting, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis.
• Lower levels of evidence support its use for AIDS, wasting syndrome, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, and glaucoma.

What is its legal status?

• The possession, use, and sale of cannabis are illegal in most countries as a result of an agreement in the ‘International Opium Convention’ (1925).
• Indian government banned the use of cannabis by passing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act-1985.
• The rigour of restrictive laws & its implementation varies greatly across countries.
• Canada, Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, and several U.S. states are some territories were medical use of cannabis is legal.   
• Netherlands (1976) & some US states (recently) have allowed for the recreational use of marijuana.

What do the doctors say?

• The opinion among medical practicners in India is divided.
• Some are of the opinion that, it is a better alternative to alcohol & tobacco consumption.
• While supporters claim that denying medical use of marijuana is a violation of ‘Right to life’, others believe it is not all that important a drug for Palliative Care.
• Most doctors advocate caution, as a wrongly worded policy could potentially aggrevate substance abuse among youngsters.