Supreme Court Orders Government to Draft Regulations for Cannabis Use
Summary
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to draft regulations within three months for the medicinal, scientific and industrial use of cannabis in Nepal. The ruling rejects full decriminalization for recreational use but opens the door to controlled cultivation and research.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court has issued a mandamus order requiring the government to prepare cannabis regulations, standards and procedures within three months.
- The court allowed medicinal and industrial use under controlled conditions but refused to legalize recreational use.
- The verdict cites Nepal’s Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act, international conventions and the economic potential of cannabis cultivation.
- The issue has long been debated in parliament and government circles, with figures such as Rabi Lamichhane and Bidhya Devi Bhandari previously backing legalization efforts.
