Manipur considering legalizing cannabis plantation for medicinal, industrial purposes

GUWAHATI: Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh informed the state Assembly that Manipur is considering legalizing cannabis plantation in the state.

Singh was responding to a query put forward by Congress MLA Khumukcham Joykishan at the Legislative Assembly.

“The primary purpose of the legalisation will be solely for medicinal and industrial purposes,” the CM said, claim reports.

Singh also informed that a total of 1952 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in seven districts of Manipur were destroyed between September 2019 and February 16, 2020, by the police and other agencies. On that front, 32 cases have also been registered so far, he said.

Singh had first suggested the idea of legalization of cannabis last year.

Singh also said that 1952 acres of illicit poppy cultivation in seven districts of the state were destroyed between September 2019 and February 16, 2020, jointly by the police and other agencies. Thirty-two cases have also been registered in this connection, he said.

For a fact, cannabis is by far the most widely cultivated, trafficked and abused illicit drug. Cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa. The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is THC.

The geographical spread of those seizures is also global, covering practically every country of the world. About 147 million people, 2.5 percent of the world population, consume cannabis (annual prevalence) compared with 0.2% consuming cocaine and 0.2 percent consuming opiates. The use of cannabis can cause some serious side effects.

Health effects of marijuana (Cannabis) are currently under study.

In 2018, the Canadian Parliament has passed a “historic” bill legalizing the recreational use of marijuana nationwide, becoming the second country in the world to do so. Uruguay became the first country to legalize the sale of cannabis for recreational use in December 2013 while nine US states and the District of Columbia also allow recreational marijuana use. Thirty US states allow marijuana for medical use. Cannabis possession first became a crime in Canada in 1923 but medical use has been legal since 2001.

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