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{{Infobox Country
|country_name = India
|local_name = भारत (Bhārat)
|flag = Flag of India.svg
|image =
|image_caption =
|capital = New Delhi
|continent = Asia
|gene_pool = South Asia
|legal_status = Illegal (bhang excepted)
|legal_status_class = illegal
|legal_status_year = 1985
|enforcement = Variable by state
}}
'''India''' is a federal republic in South Asia with a long and complex history of cannabis cultivation, use, and regulation. Traditional cannabis preparations—particularly '''[[bhang]]''', '''[[ganja]]''', and '''[[charas]]'''—have been integrated into religious, medicinal, and recreational practices for millennia, particularly within Hindu and Sufi traditions.


Despite the [[Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985|NDPS Act of 1985]] criminalizing most cannabis activities, enforcement varies dramatically across states, and traditional preparations remain culturally embedded in regions such as [[Rajasthan]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], and the Himalayan belt.
== Map ==
<div class="lw-map" data-smw-query="[[Has country::India]]|?Has GPS coordinates|?Has descriptive name|?Has conservation priority|?Has accession ID"></div>
== Legal Status ==
=== Current Framework ===
The '''[[Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985]]''' (NDPS Act) is the primary legislation governing cannabis in India. Under this act:
* '''Cannabis resin (charas)''' and '''ganja''' (flowering tops) are classified as narcotic drugs
* '''Bhang''' (leaves and seeds) is explicitly excluded from the definition of cannabis
* Penalties range from rigorous imprisonment to fines depending on quantity and intent
=== State Variations ===
Indian states have considerable autonomy in regulating bhang and enforcement priorities:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! State/UT !! Bhang Status !! Enforcement Level !! Notes
|-
| [[Rajasthan]] || Legal (licensed shops) || Low || Government-authorized bhang shops
|-
| [[Uttar Pradesh]] || Legal (licensed) || Low || Traditional use protected
|-
| [[Himachal Pradesh]] || Technically illegal || Variable || Major charas production area; periodic crackdowns
|-
| [[West Bengal]] || Ambiguous || Low-Medium || Traditional ganja cultivation in north
|-
| [[Odisha]] || Ambiguous || Low || Some traditional cultivation continues
|}
=== Historical Timeline ===
* '''Pre-1961''': Cannabis widely cultivated and used; various regional regulations
* '''1961''': India signs UN Single Convention but secures 25-year exemption for traditional use
* '''1985''': NDPS Act passed under US pressure; most cannabis activities criminalized
* '''1989''': NDPS Act amended; bhang explicitly excluded
* '''2020s''': Growing debate on medical cannabis; some states exploring pilot programs
== Enforcement & Threats ==
{{Main|Portal:Current Events}}
=== Eradication Campaigns ===
Major eradication efforts are concentrated in:
* '''[[Himachal Pradesh]]''': Annual pre-harvest destruction campaigns in [[Parvati Valley]], [[Kullu Valley]]
* '''[[Manipur]]/[[Nagaland]]''': Northeast India sees periodic enforcement
* '''[[Odisha]]''': Campaigns in tribal areas
=== Current Threats ===
<!-- This section can pull from Portal:Current Events with a semantic query -->
{{#ask:[[Category:News]][[Has country::India]][[Has news type::Eradication]]
|?Has date
|?Has location
|sort=Has date
|order=desc
|limit=5
|format=ul
|default=No recent news items.
}}
== Cultivation History ==
Cannabis has been cultivated in the Indian subcontinent for at least 3,000 years. The plant appears in the '''[[Atharva Veda]]''' (c. 1500–1000 BCE) as one of five sacred plants.
=== Traditional Production Regions ===
* '''Himalayan Belt''': [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttarakhand]], [[Kashmir]] — primarily charas (hand-rubbed resin)
* '''Eastern Plains''': [[West Bengal]], [[Bihar]], [[Odisha]] — primarily ganja (dried flowers)
* '''Central India''': [[Madhya Pradesh]] — wild and semi-cultivated populations
=== Colonial Period ===
The '''Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report (1894)''' remains one of the most comprehensive studies of cannabis use ever conducted. The British commission concluded that moderate use was essentially harmless and recommended against prohibition.
== Demographics & Culture ==
=== Linguistic Context ===
India's cannabis terminology varies by region and language:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Term !! Language/Region !! Meaning
|-
| भांग (bhāṅg) || Hindi/Sanskrit || Leaves and seeds preparation
|-
| गांजा (gānjā) || Hindi/Bengali || Dried female flowers
|-
| चरस (caras) || Hindi || Hand-rubbed resin
|-
| মদক (madak) || Bengali || Ganja mixed with tobacco
|-
| കഞ്ചാവ് (kañcāv) || Malayalam || General term for cannabis
|}
=== Religious & Cultural Use ===
* '''Shaivism''': Cannabis associated with Lord Shiva; consumed during [[Maha Shivaratri]] and [[Holi]]
* '''Sufi traditions''': Historical use among certain orders
* '''Ayurveda''': Cannabis preparations used medicinally for pain, insomnia, digestive issues
* '''Unani medicine''': Traditional use continues in some practices
=== Ethnic Communities ===
Traditional cultivation knowledge is maintained by various communities:
* '''Rajput and Rajwari''' communities in Himachal Pradesh (charas production)
* '''Koch''' and '''Rajbongshi''' communities in North Bengal (ganja cultivation)
* '''Tribal communities''' in Odisha and Chhattisgarh
== Climate Overview ==
India's diverse geography supports various cannabis ecotypes:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Zone !! Climate !! Typical Varieties !! Harvest Season
|-
| Himalayan || Alpine/Montane || Short, resinous, early-finishing || Sept–Nov
|-
| Northern Plains || Subtropical || Tall, moderate THC || Oct–Dec
|-
| Eastern || Tropical humid || Very tall, late-flowering || Dec–Feb
|-
| Central Plateau || Semi-arid || Variable; wild populations || Nov–Jan
|}
== Documented Regions ==
=== Growing Regions ===
{{#ask:[[Category:Growing Regions]][[Has country::India]]
|?Has conservation status
|?Has gene pool
|mainlabel=Region
|format=table
|class=wikitable sortable
|default=No growing regions documented yet.
}}
=== Growing Areas ===
{{#ask:[[Category:Growing Areas]][[Has country::India]]
|?Has growing region
|?Has conservation status
|mainlabel=Area
|format=table
|class=wikitable sortable
|default=No growing areas documented yet.
}}
== States & Territories ==
{{#ask:[[Category:States]][[Has country::India]]
|?Has growing regions count
|?Has accessions count
|mainlabel=State/UT
|format=table
|class=wikitable sortable
|default=''Browse by state coming soon.''
}}
''For now, see individual [[#Documented Regions|Growing Region]] pages for state-level breakdown.''
== See Also ==
* [[South Asia]] — Gene pool overview
* [[NDPS Act, 1985]]
* [[Indian Hemp Drugs Commission]]
* [[Bhang]]
* [[Charas]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External Links ==
* [https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/A1985-61.pdf NDPS Act, 1985 (full text)]
* [https://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/inhemp/ihmenu.htm Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report, 1894]
[[Category:Countries]]
[[Category:Asia]]

Revision as of 01:09, 14 January 2026

India
भारत (Bhārat)
Flag File:Flag of India.svg
Capital New Delhi
Continent Asia
Gene Pool South Asia
Cannabis Status
Legal Status Illegal (bhang excepted)
Status Since 1985
Enforcement Variable by state
Documentation
Growing Regions 3
Growing Areas 1
Accessions 25


India is a federal republic in South Asia with a long and complex history of cannabis cultivation, use, and regulation. Traditional cannabis preparations—particularly bhang, ganja, and charas—have been integrated into religious, medicinal, and recreational practices for millennia, particularly within Hindu and Sufi traditions.

Despite the NDPS Act of 1985 criminalizing most cannabis activities, enforcement varies dramatically across states, and traditional preparations remain culturally embedded in regions such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and the Himalayan belt.

Map

Current Framework

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) is the primary legislation governing cannabis in India. Under this act:

  • Cannabis resin (charas) and ganja (flowering tops) are classified as narcotic drugs
  • Bhang (leaves and seeds) is explicitly excluded from the definition of cannabis
  • Penalties range from rigorous imprisonment to fines depending on quantity and intent

State Variations

Indian states have considerable autonomy in regulating bhang and enforcement priorities:

State/UT Bhang Status Enforcement Level Notes
Rajasthan Legal (licensed shops) Low Government-authorized bhang shops
Uttar Pradesh Legal (licensed) Low Traditional use protected
Himachal Pradesh Technically illegal Variable Major charas production area; periodic crackdowns
West Bengal Ambiguous Low-Medium Traditional ganja cultivation in north
Odisha Ambiguous Low Some traditional cultivation continues

Historical Timeline

  • Pre-1961: Cannabis widely cultivated and used; various regional regulations
  • 1961: India signs UN Single Convention but secures 25-year exemption for traditional use
  • 1985: NDPS Act passed under US pressure; most cannabis activities criminalized
  • 1989: NDPS Act amended; bhang explicitly excluded
  • 2020s: Growing debate on medical cannabis; some states exploring pilot programs

Enforcement & Threats

Template:Main

Eradication Campaigns

Major eradication efforts are concentrated in:

Current Threats

No recent news items.

Cultivation History

Cannabis has been cultivated in the Indian subcontinent for at least 3,000 years. The plant appears in the Atharva Veda (c. 1500–1000 BCE) as one of five sacred plants.

Traditional Production Regions

Colonial Period

The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report (1894) remains one of the most comprehensive studies of cannabis use ever conducted. The British commission concluded that moderate use was essentially harmless and recommended against prohibition.

Demographics & Culture

Linguistic Context

India's cannabis terminology varies by region and language:

Term Language/Region Meaning
भांग (bhāṅg) Hindi/Sanskrit Leaves and seeds preparation
गांजा (gānjā) Hindi/Bengali Dried female flowers
चरस (caras) Hindi Hand-rubbed resin
মদক (madak) Bengali Ganja mixed with tobacco
കഞ്ചാവ് (kañcāv) Malayalam General term for cannabis

Religious & Cultural Use

  • Shaivism: Cannabis associated with Lord Shiva; consumed during Maha Shivaratri and Holi
  • Sufi traditions: Historical use among certain orders
  • Ayurveda: Cannabis preparations used medicinally for pain, insomnia, digestive issues
  • Unani medicine: Traditional use continues in some practices

Ethnic Communities

Traditional cultivation knowledge is maintained by various communities:

  • Rajput and Rajwari communities in Himachal Pradesh (charas production)
  • Koch and Rajbongshi communities in North Bengal (ganja cultivation)
  • Tribal communities in Odisha and Chhattisgarh

Climate Overview

India's diverse geography supports various cannabis ecotypes:

Zone Climate Typical Varieties Harvest Season
Himalayan Alpine/Montane Short, resinous, early-finishing Sept–Nov
Northern Plains Subtropical Tall, moderate THC Oct–Dec
Eastern Tropical humid Very tall, late-flowering Dec–Feb
Central Plateau Semi-arid Variable; wild populations Nov–Jan

Documented Regions

Growing Regions

RegionHas conservation statusHas gene pool
North Bengal PlainsSouth Asian Gene Pool
The DooarsSouth Asian Gene Pool
Western HimalayasVulnerableSouth Asian Gene Pool

Growing Areas

AreaHas growing regionHas conservation status
Koch BiharNorth Bengal PlainsMedium

States & Territories

Browse by state coming soon.

For now, see individual Growing Region pages for state-level breakdown.

See Also

References

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