Activists hope to legalize weed in Nepal
Nepal, once known as the land of hippies, owing to pressure from the West followed suit and alongside other nations. criminalized production, sales and consumption of marijuana in the late 1970s. Now that the West has started decriminalizing and even legalizing recreational and medicinal marijuana, activists are hoping to put pressure on the Nepal government to legalize farming, consumption and export marijuana products.
Activists argue that while Nepal gave in to international pressure, marijuana remains widely accepted and tolerated within Nepal’s socio-religious context. As a result, a bill has been introduced in the Nepalese parliament for the same. However, with political parties busy in inter and intra party feuds, any hope for robust and immediate discussion on the bill remains bleak.
Marijuana was legally consumed and sold in Nepal up until the late seventies with ‘hippies’ being chased from Europe and America. It goes without saying why Nepal achieved a brand status as ‘hippies’ paradise’ ‘ the last Shangri-la’. To know more about the marijuana industry during this period in Nepal, read our case study on Eden Hashish center.
Multitude of studies carried out since the-then US president Richard Nixon declared ‘War on Drugs’ has laid out the medicinal qualities of the herb. Moreover, criminalization of consumption of drugs has led to disproportionate conviction of racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, it is an unspoken tragedy of how criminalization of marijuana led to major financial loss to Far-Western and Western farmers in Nepal. You can have a look at this short 10 minute documentary by Reason TV to know more.
What do you think? Should Nepal legalize marijuana? Feel free to share your thoughts.
