Indian State Uttarakhand to legalize Cannabis Cultivation
Posted by Sagar Satapathy on December 06, 2015.
Uttarakhand, the north Indian state, will become the first in the country to legalize cannabis cultivation. However, people won't be allowed to smoke it. The cannabis cultivation is meant only for industrial purpose and can't be used by the common people. This is completely different from what is being practiced in the United States.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced that farmers across the state, will be allowed to cultivate hemp plants, but two regions Terai and Bhabhar won't get that option. The state government has made it clear that the cannabis produce will be sold only to the department and not to others.
Cannabis plants, which will be allowed for local cultivation for industrial purposes will have a THC content of 0.3 to 1.5%. The normal ranges of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content in plants that grow wild in Uttarakhand in abundance is 4% to 5%.
India took the step forward to legalize cannabis cultivation way back in 2010 after the Textile Ministry passed a Natural Fiber Policy. The legalization of cannabis cultivation is expected to help create an industrial hemp textile market in India at $4 million. Currently, the hemp production market is dominated by China, France and Germany. India is eyeing to tap that vast market.
