Experts suggest erasure of bottlenecks for marijuana cultivation

After the government announced that it would make legal arrangements for the cultivation of marijuana, policy makers and researchers have furnished views to clear the bottlenecks first.

Secretary at Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Dipak Kumar Kharal, said the Narcotic Drug Control Act, 2033 must be amended to facilitate marijuana farming. "Legal hurdles need to be erased for it. A board can be formed and fallow land utilized for marijuana farming," he suggested.

He was putting forth views in the meeting of the parliamentary committee on agriculture, cooperatives and natural resources under the House of Representatives on Friday.

Similarly, Director General at Ayurved and Alternative Medicine Department of the Health Ministry, Dr Pradip KC, informed that several studies on marijuana were conducted in the ayurvedic field. He explained the medicinal value of the weed.

Researcher at the Kathmandu University, Prof Dr Panna Thapa, informed that Nepal is a home to varieties of weed. The government should allow scientific research on it, he said, adding that the studies so far had stated that use of marijuana could alleviate pain, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and cancer, among others.

Even the garments and cosmetics could be made from marijuana. He however underlined that need for producing it line with international standard and creating jobs to farmers.

However, Dr Ananta Adhikari from Mental Hospital viewed although there was medicinal value in marijuana, it was equally essential to remain aware of its negative impact.

In a recent budget announcement, Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun had said the government would make legal arrangements for the commercial farming of marijuana.

The Finance Minister had carried the budget document in a marijuana-made bag, giving a message that commercial farming of the weed could be mulled.

During the meeting, Secretary at Home Ministry, Eknarayan Aryal, informed that a study was being conducted on the types of weeds being planted in different places across the country. A report to this regard would be released soon, he added.

Former minister Sher Bahadur Tamang viewed commercial farming of marijuana should be farmer-focused. "Farmers themselves should be encouraged for it, not others or corporation," he insisted, adding that it would contribute to national economy.