Supreme Court orders government to regulate cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial use
Summary
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to create rules for the controlled cultivation and production of cannabis for medicinal, scientific and industrial use within three months. The ruling also urges broader consultations before any move to consider recreational cannabis use.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court directed the government to establish a regulatory framework for controlled cannabis cultivation and production for medicinal, scientific and industrial purposes.
- The court gave the government three months to draft regulations, standards and procedures under the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, 1976.
- The verdict cited the government’s prolonged failure to frame rules as a neglect of its legal duties.
- The court said recreational cannabis use would require broader consultations and possible legal amendments due to wider social and economic implications.
