A provincial government in Nepal’s Gandaki region has enacted legislation permitting the cultivation and medical use of cannabis, marking a departure from the country’s national prohibition on the substance. The measure took effect Monday following approval by the provincial chief’s office, according to Prabin Poudyal, a spokesman for the administration.
Under the new provincial framework, farmers seeking to grow cannabis for medical purposes must first obtain authorization from regional authorities, who will maintain oversight of operations. The legalization at the provincial level exists in contrast to Nepal’s national laws, which prohibit farming, possession, and use of marijuana. Current penalties under national law include up to one month of imprisonment for personal possession and sentences up to ten years for distribution and sales, depending on quantities involved.
Gandaki is one of seven provinces in the Himalayan nation and contains several notable geographical and commercial features, including popular mountains, hiking routes, and the resort city of Pokhara. Cannabis has historical roots in Nepali culture and religious practice, with the plant native to the region. Activists within Nepal have been working to persuade the government to revise its drug policies and permit cannabis use.
The country’s relationship with marijuana reflects broader shifts in global drug policy over recent decades. Cannabis held significant cultural and religious importance historically in Nepal, but the nation moved to criminalize the substance in the late 1970s alongside international trends, a period that also saw a decline in foreign visitors who had previously been drawn to the country. During the annual Shivaratri festival, which occurs in spring, devotees traditionally use cannabis at temples dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, with local authorities typically permitting this seasonal practice.
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