Regulation allows cannabis buyers to know what they’re consuming and moderate their intake, in the same way that a drinker can distinguish and choose between a whiskey and a beer.
The attack on Chhayanaut, newspaper offices, and the public lynching of a Hindu man show that Bangladesh is heading toward Islamist rule, far removed from electoral democracy.
It is argued that India-Israel ties are moving from buyer–seller dynamic to one focused on joint development & manufacturing partnership, a shift 'more durable' than traditional arms sales.
If Pathaan gave both conservatives and liberals room to hide, Dhurandhar extends no such courtesy. Aditya Dhar ripped open that tent of hypocrisy and turned the knife.
Shashi Tharoor, a man born with luck, enjoying high life right through is an opportunistic liar and even suspected of wrong doings in his wife’s suicide cum murder. Yet, I must appreciate this article. cannabis must be legalized for its medical benefits. Cannabis has been wrongly termed as a harmful drug. Let anyone point a single case of death or harmful addiction. CANNABIS must be removed from drug category and permitted to be used openly by public.
So one must be a Saddhu or aghori in order to smoke ganja legally in India? Smh, texting from south africa , we are doing it here , ifsca human right thing ,,
Jobs aren’t forthcoming. Young men are disheartened, depressed. Why lead them to intoxicants — by making them easily (legally) available? I would call this a cruel idea from the masses’ point of view. Only elites can even think of debating over it. If Congress adopts it as an idea to propagate, its vote share will fall many notches. Mr Shashi Tharoor does not deserve to be a public leader in a poor country like ours.
Just signed in to commend Mr. Tharoor on a brilliantly articulated piece. Thank you Mr. Tharoor for bringing this up and presenting an informed, logical and balanced point of view.
There is absolutely no reason for Cannabis to be illegal and Alochol to be legal, especially in a place like India where bhang has been historically consumed for thousands of years by Hindus. Under pressure from the United States, Rajiv Gandhi signed the NDPS, one of the worst pieces of legislation in the history of the country, suddenly criminalizing millions of users under pressure from the United States, who had clear vested interests. Alcohol, a drug with far more social and economic cost to India, continues to remain legal and popular. Criminalizing cannabis is not only bad policy, it is highly discriminatory, impacting poorer people who cannot afford to spend on expensive liquor.
Now the west is starting to realize the follies of persecuting and criminalizing users, India needs to understand the draconian nature of the NDPS and follow suit by at least decriminalizing Cannabis use. Many states in the US have already made marijuana available for medical purposes, guided by numerous studies that have clearly indicated Cannabis’ potential as an anti-emetic, chronic pain management, anti-anxiety, insomnia and appetite stimulant. Cannabis has also been historically used in India for medicinal purposes, either individually or as an ingredient in preparations.
Now, thousands are languishing in jails around the country for simply being caught with cannabis. A ‘crime’ that is only a crime because the government says so. The irony of cannabis being illegal in a country with tens of thousands of Shiva temples and millions of worshippers was probably lost on those who criminalized it in the 80s. It did not make sense then and it does not make sense in 2018 for certain.
Again, thank you Mr. Tharoor for bringing this up.
Ban or no ban cannabis is freely available everywhere. What stands out is the hypocrisy of the ndps act which criminalized marijuana and created a dangerous drug mafia. If the present govt is serious about eradicating drug menace in the country start first by legalizing and regulating cannabis, use the money in constructive purposes like education and infrastructure.
yes . India should legalise marijuana. no meaning in wasting the medical properties of the plant . just on the fear that it would be misused. if this fear had been given the current importance electricity would never have been accepted.
Thank you for this Shashi. I am an occasional user of marijuana for creative and recreational purposes I would like to add Marijuana is a PLANT INTAKE OF DOPAMINE a a substance our body produces when we experience novelty or something new it calms us which is the DMT in Marijuana which has loads of medical benifits the THC as rightly pointed out by Shashi can be monitored with education and awareness of excessive dependence but we know today that they really cant be separated and THC also can take man into states of high gamma waves associated with people in deep meditation….It is further part of our culture even mentioned in the Vedas it should be legalised in India and monitored as rightly suggested.
Yes, legalising cannabis can help us here, giving rise to a new industry. It can provide farmers with a new crop to grow, which is cheaper to grow, and will open the doors to the scope in medical marijuana. But before legalising, it is really necessary for people to be made aware about the crop. Due to the prohibition from last 2 decades, there has been a shift in people’s mind about the herb. With the legalisation of hemp, I realised that there is a boost in the investments in hemp business. There will be a lot of obstacles in the way, but I hope our country will make it.
There are many issues to be solved , but India can solve many of them by introducing hemp and cannabis into the society, thus we will be able to produce good quality hemp fibres and other daily products, plus many medical marijuana products like CBD oil, smokable pain killer buds.
One more thing, if you think you can’t accept it!!! Let me tell you, if you take a look around you, you will see alot of youngsters smoking up, many Baba’s smoking up , almost every worker, driver smoking around you, and those who thinks working class doesn’t smoke up or people from good background smoke up. Currently , most of them go to kasol with friends to score charas. And smoke inside or hiding in the corners. Many of IT professionals smoke up, WHO DOESN’T???? Even I smoke up almost everyday. Regulation is the key!! Congress can make legalisation there new weapon, and get its power back. With this it can take the votes from all the stoners atleast!
Preventing us from something that is essential for us is a Human Right Violation
It is our right to grow Ganja or not
It is our right to use it for our healing
This is Not Democracy This Is Straight up Dictatorship
Yes, very true indeed. Another one from Mr. Tharoor.
But, I mostly see these kind of educated and progressive thoughts from you in articles like these. Please move ahead and push to implement these in legislation.
Finally, a rational view for something that should have been paid heed to a long time back. Thank you sir for coming out with such a note, as it take guts to be a public figure and yet take a stand for what is right, knowing there will be people blabbering against it (a few have already started pouring in the comments as I see). And, for those who think this would increase crime, buddy, if laughing and eating is a crime, then yes, there will be an increment in crime lords.
I wish the decision makers get to read this and take some solid steps in regularizing and legalizing some ‘stuff’.
Excellent article. Hit all the right points about the fallacies of the drug prohibition. You sir are one of the few politicians I feel actually thinks logically and speaks.
To the people whom commented against this. Yes we are a country with lot of much more important issues. But that doesn’t mean each and every politician has to only worry about that. We should have a wholesome development as a nation. And if u read the article you’ll know that the issue isn’t too get the nation “tripping”. There are so many social, economic and health benefits. So in a way legalizing will help combat those more important issues that u mentioned.
Add to the person that thinks marijuana is going to make ppl more violent and commit crimes, I’d suggest you try it. Leave committing a crime just the thought of getting out of ur seat and walking a lil bit itself will feel like too much work. Most are usually very mellow after it.
A moderate regulation is the way to go I feel
Already men are enjoying too too many privileges in our country – drinking, smoking, gambling, visiting pubs, brothels, watching porn, harassing girls on streets & now blatantly violating them resulting in spiralling crimes in our country. Enough of bestowing them with more & more entitlement.
Ur the only weed high deprived cumt …who hasn’t tasted the high for sure …..from a 20 year old stoner …..don’t judge the real age by stoner age tho …and stop fucking it up for us
you are a complete fool
This is the kind of out-of-touch liberal elitist BS causes that our Liberal brigade come out with.
In a nation where people struggle to get basic amenities like food, shelter, toilets, medical care – we have one Member of Parliament firmly fixated on the real issue – “legalizing marijuana” . Because THAT is the need of the hour in India – tripping!
These same elitist liberals scoff at economy class (“cattle class”) , champion “gay rights” and “legalizing marijuana” – where as in the “REAL WORLD” we have cities collapsing under overburdened municipal authorities, Banks weighed down by NPAs, farmers struggling to compete in a globalized agricultural marketplace, Govt struggling to balance the fiscal deficit and Indians doing their best to dodge taxes and litter every chance they get. And to top all these off we have severe water stress the length and breadth of this country!
But our indefatigable MP from Kerala’s Thiruvanthapuram has his sights firmly set on what’s important in India – FFS GANJA !!
He is not ‘fixated’ on this issue. He speaks his mind about several issues and this is one of them.
How is banning marijuana helping people get basic amenities ? In face, removing the ban may help a few folks make a respectable living rather than criminalizing them. The police can sped their resources on other issues.
The fact that many in India are facing existential issues is all the more reason why we should not waste govt resources on unwanted bans like this .
Misconception of are just made for alcahol Giants. I support legalisation . Come on sasi tharoor!
Shashi Tharoor, a man born with luck, enjoying high life right through is an opportunistic liar and even suspected of wrong doings in his wife’s suicide cum murder. Yet, I must appreciate this article. cannabis must be legalized for its medical benefits. Cannabis has been wrongly termed as a harmful drug. Let anyone point a single case of death or harmful addiction. CANNABIS must be removed from drug category and permitted to be used openly by public.
So one must be a Saddhu or aghori in order to smoke ganja legally in India? Smh, texting from south africa , we are doing it here , ifsca human right thing ,,
Jobs aren’t forthcoming. Young men are disheartened, depressed. Why lead them to intoxicants — by making them easily (legally) available? I would call this a cruel idea from the masses’ point of view. Only elites can even think of debating over it. If Congress adopts it as an idea to propagate, its vote share will fall many notches. Mr Shashi Tharoor does not deserve to be a public leader in a poor country like ours.
Just signed in to commend Mr. Tharoor on a brilliantly articulated piece. Thank you Mr. Tharoor for bringing this up and presenting an informed, logical and balanced point of view.
There is absolutely no reason for Cannabis to be illegal and Alochol to be legal, especially in a place like India where bhang has been historically consumed for thousands of years by Hindus. Under pressure from the United States, Rajiv Gandhi signed the NDPS, one of the worst pieces of legislation in the history of the country, suddenly criminalizing millions of users under pressure from the United States, who had clear vested interests. Alcohol, a drug with far more social and economic cost to India, continues to remain legal and popular. Criminalizing cannabis is not only bad policy, it is highly discriminatory, impacting poorer people who cannot afford to spend on expensive liquor.
Now the west is starting to realize the follies of persecuting and criminalizing users, India needs to understand the draconian nature of the NDPS and follow suit by at least decriminalizing Cannabis use. Many states in the US have already made marijuana available for medical purposes, guided by numerous studies that have clearly indicated Cannabis’ potential as an anti-emetic, chronic pain management, anti-anxiety, insomnia and appetite stimulant. Cannabis has also been historically used in India for medicinal purposes, either individually or as an ingredient in preparations.
Now, thousands are languishing in jails around the country for simply being caught with cannabis. A ‘crime’ that is only a crime because the government says so. The irony of cannabis being illegal in a country with tens of thousands of Shiva temples and millions of worshippers was probably lost on those who criminalized it in the 80s. It did not make sense then and it does not make sense in 2018 for certain.
Again, thank you Mr. Tharoor for bringing this up.
I second it
100% with the author!
Ban or no ban cannabis is freely available everywhere. What stands out is the hypocrisy of the ndps act which criminalized marijuana and created a dangerous drug mafia. If the present govt is serious about eradicating drug menace in the country start first by legalizing and regulating cannabis, use the money in constructive purposes like education and infrastructure.
yes . India should legalise marijuana. no meaning in wasting the medical properties of the plant . just on the fear that it would be misused. if this fear had been given the current importance electricity would never have been accepted.
Avinash Tharoor & Shashi Tharoor u guys r doing great job? ( legalising cannabis?)
Thank you for this Shashi. I am an occasional user of marijuana for creative and recreational purposes I would like to add Marijuana is a PLANT INTAKE OF DOPAMINE a a substance our body produces when we experience novelty or something new it calms us which is the DMT in Marijuana which has loads of medical benifits the THC as rightly pointed out by Shashi can be monitored with education and awareness of excessive dependence but we know today that they really cant be separated and THC also can take man into states of high gamma waves associated with people in deep meditation….It is further part of our culture even mentioned in the Vedas it should be legalised in India and monitored as rightly suggested.
Yes, legalising cannabis can help us here, giving rise to a new industry. It can provide farmers with a new crop to grow, which is cheaper to grow, and will open the doors to the scope in medical marijuana. But before legalising, it is really necessary for people to be made aware about the crop. Due to the prohibition from last 2 decades, there has been a shift in people’s mind about the herb. With the legalisation of hemp, I realised that there is a boost in the investments in hemp business. There will be a lot of obstacles in the way, but I hope our country will make it.
There are many issues to be solved , but India can solve many of them by introducing hemp and cannabis into the society, thus we will be able to produce good quality hemp fibres and other daily products, plus many medical marijuana products like CBD oil, smokable pain killer buds.
One more thing, if you think you can’t accept it!!! Let me tell you, if you take a look around you, you will see alot of youngsters smoking up, many Baba’s smoking up , almost every worker, driver smoking around you, and those who thinks working class doesn’t smoke up or people from good background smoke up. Currently , most of them go to kasol with friends to score charas. And smoke inside or hiding in the corners. Many of IT professionals smoke up, WHO DOESN’T???? Even I smoke up almost everyday. Regulation is the key!! Congress can make legalisation there new weapon, and get its power back. With this it can take the votes from all the stoners atleast!
Preventing us from something that is essential for us is a Human Right Violation
It is our right to grow Ganja or not
It is our right to use it for our healing
This is Not Democracy This Is Straight up Dictatorship
I totally agree with the arguments posed in the script
Yes, very true indeed. Another one from Mr. Tharoor.
But, I mostly see these kind of educated and progressive thoughts from you in articles like these. Please move ahead and push to implement these in legislation.
Finally, a rational view for something that should have been paid heed to a long time back. Thank you sir for coming out with such a note, as it take guts to be a public figure and yet take a stand for what is right, knowing there will be people blabbering against it (a few have already started pouring in the comments as I see). And, for those who think this would increase crime, buddy, if laughing and eating is a crime, then yes, there will be an increment in crime lords.
I wish the decision makers get to read this and take some solid steps in regularizing and legalizing some ‘stuff’.
Excellent article. Hit all the right points about the fallacies of the drug prohibition. You sir are one of the few politicians I feel actually thinks logically and speaks.
To the people whom commented against this. Yes we are a country with lot of much more important issues. But that doesn’t mean each and every politician has to only worry about that. We should have a wholesome development as a nation. And if u read the article you’ll know that the issue isn’t too get the nation “tripping”. There are so many social, economic and health benefits. So in a way legalizing will help combat those more important issues that u mentioned.
Add to the person that thinks marijuana is going to make ppl more violent and commit crimes, I’d suggest you try it. Leave committing a crime just the thought of getting out of ur seat and walking a lil bit itself will feel like too much work. Most are usually very mellow after it.
A moderate regulation is the way to go I feel
Already men are enjoying too too many privileges in our country – drinking, smoking, gambling, visiting pubs, brothels, watching porn, harassing girls on streets & now blatantly violating them resulting in spiralling crimes in our country. Enough of bestowing them with more & more entitlement.
Ur the only weed high deprived cumt …who hasn’t tasted the high for sure …..from a 20 year old stoner …..don’t judge the real age by stoner age tho …and stop fucking it up for us
you are a complete fool
This is the kind of out-of-touch liberal elitist BS causes that our Liberal brigade come out with.
In a nation where people struggle to get basic amenities like food, shelter, toilets, medical care – we have one Member of Parliament firmly fixated on the real issue – “legalizing marijuana” . Because THAT is the need of the hour in India – tripping!
These same elitist liberals scoff at economy class (“cattle class”) , champion “gay rights” and “legalizing marijuana” – where as in the “REAL WORLD” we have cities collapsing under overburdened municipal authorities, Banks weighed down by NPAs, farmers struggling to compete in a globalized agricultural marketplace, Govt struggling to balance the fiscal deficit and Indians doing their best to dodge taxes and litter every chance they get. And to top all these off we have severe water stress the length and breadth of this country!
But our indefatigable MP from Kerala’s Thiruvanthapuram has his sights firmly set on what’s important in India – FFS GANJA !!
Quite right !! Agree with u !!
He is not ‘fixated’ on this issue. He speaks his mind about several issues and this is one of them.
How is banning marijuana helping people get basic amenities ? In face, removing the ban may help a few folks make a respectable living rather than criminalizing them. The police can sped their resources on other issues.
The fact that many in India are facing existential issues is all the more reason why we should not waste govt resources on unwanted bans like this .