Gandaki Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta has authenticated a bill to regulate and utilize cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes. The bill has been enacted into law following its authentication.
Earlier, on 8 Shrawan, Chief Bhatta had returned the bill to the provincial assembly for reconsideration, citing inconsistencies with federal law. The provincial assembly, in its meeting on 15 Shrawan, passed the bill unanimously for the second time, without any amendments, and sent it back to the Chief for authentication.
As per Section 201 (4) of the Constitution, the Chief authenticated the bill on Sunday. The bill was authenticated after it was passed for the second time by the provincial assembly, as per Section 201 (3) of the Constitution.
The law will come into effect after its publication in the provincial gazette. The provincial government has expressed confidence that the law will lay a new foundation for agricultural modernization, job creation, and export promotion.
Key Provisions of the Law
As per the law, only individuals, institutions, or cooperatives that meet the criteria set by the government and obtain a permit will be allowed to cultivate cannabis. The law does not permit the use of cannabis for recreational purposes.
The entire process, from cultivation to processing, storage, transportation, sale, and export, will be regulated by the provincial government’s regulatory mechanism and permit system.
The law also requires that the concerned agency be informed before production, storage, and sale, and that a monitoring committee be formed at the local level. It also prohibits trade without a permit.
The law stipulates that the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in the cannabis plant should not exceed 0.3 percent. It also provides for a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000 for violating the law.
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