POKHARA, July 9: The Gandaki Provincial Assembly has unanimously passed a bill legalizing the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes, paving the way for regulated commercial production in the province.
The Bill to Regulate and Manage Cannabis Cultivation for Medicinal and Industrial Purposes, 2083 was endorsed during Thursday's Assembly meeting. This is the first time that a provincial government has legalized cannabis use.
Following the bill's passage, individuals and companies will be able to obtain licenses to cultivate cannabis under a strict regulatory framework. Licenses will be issued for five years upon payment of prescribed fees, with separate provisions for medicinal and industrial cultivation.
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The provincial government will designate specific districts or local areas where cultivation will be permitted. Licensed cultivation sites must be secured with fencing or walls and CCTV surveillance to prevent unauthorized access. Applicants must also have no drug-related convictions within the past 10 years.
The law establishes a three-tier regulatory mechanism to oversee cannabis cultivation. A high-level steering committee chaired by the chief minister will provide policy direction, while a Cannabis Cultivation Regulation and Management Unit under the provincial government will issue licenses and conduct inspections. Ward-level monitoring committees will also be formed under the leadership of ward chairpersons.
To prevent misuse, the law sets a maximum tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 0.3 percent for industrial cannabis. Crops must undergo mandatory chemical testing before harvesting or sale.
The legislation also recognizes hemp seeds, locally known as bhang, as an industrial raw material used in products such as pickles and chutneys.
Unauthorized cultivation or violations of licensing conditions will be punishable under the federal Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 1976. The provincial unit may also impose administrative fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000 for breaching regulatory requirements, with the right to appeal to the district court within 35 days.
The law further requires the provincial government to establish rehabilitation centers with medical services to help address potential social risks associated with expanded commercial cannabis cultivation.
According to analysts, cannabis has multiple uses, while it is generally perceived as a drug of abuse. In Nepal, Ayurvedic physicians have used cannabis based medications to treat irritable bowel syndrome, dry cough, diarrhea, dysentery, depression and anxiety etc. Its therapeutic importance in Ayurveda has been well recognised; 29 pharmacological properties and actions, with 13 dosage forms to treat more than 29 medical conditions have been reported.
