India and it’s biggest Hemp Industry, you can’t see yet!

India and it’s biggest Hemp Industry,
you can’t see yet!

At the time when legal cannabis industry is on a boom with a whopping CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 34.0 % worldwide , we are still not able to see through the smoke of a herb which is native to us, Indians!

From the sacred ancient medicinal guide “Atharvaveda” to the auspicious drinks on native festivals, “Bhang or Vijaya” has always been omnipresent to Indian culture & life. Ayurveda, which is 5000 years old, celebrates “Cannabis” in 191 formulations to treat wide range of health conditions. But today, Indian laws consider it illegal.

The Westerners have always tried to rip us off by putting a ban on black gold – Cannabis.

A general discourse with someone supporting this ban always ends up in a heated argument with swear words hurling here and there. Although I may disapprove of what you say against the herb, I will defend to death my right to say for it. Instead to write it here, for a smarter audience who are avid readers too.

Native to India still
Banned in India?

In 1894 when India was forced to consider ban on cannabis for the first time in history, over a thousand interviews were conducted to know genuine view of public on this humble herb – Vijaya or Cannabis.

The result was “The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report- 1894” which concluded that “moderate” use of hemp drugs “produces no injurious effects on the mind” and “no moral injury whatever”. In fact, it was concluded that there was no rational justification to suppress the use of this mystic herb in India.

Commission report has the testimony from almost 1,200 “doctors, coolies, yogis, fakirs, heads of lunatic asylums, peasant, tax gatherers, army officers, ganja palace operators and the clergy.”

In 1957, CSIR ( Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) researchers I.C Chopra and R.N Chopra reviewed the report and reiterated that the findings held true over the years. Later it was banned in 1985. Why?

A purported agenda vested in the interests of the fledgling industries ( synthetic textile, pharma, timber, wood-pulp paper ) weighed heavy on Indian innocence. This forbids us to embrace our own native herb in India today when the west is embracing it’s goodness in all it’s forms.

Still dazed in the smoke of herb?

Atharvaveda considers “Hemp” ‘a liberator from sin’ , joy-giver and a source of happiness. Sadly enough, a typical survey suggests 82% of Indians still think it’s a drug.

Why? A common confusion that Hemp and Marijuana are one and the same thing. First off, if you call Hemp and Marijuana the same, it’d be as stupid as it would be if I call you a chimp. No kidding. Hemp and Marijuana are totally different!

This confusion, unjust judgement of the herb- Vijaya, and it’s deliberate criminalisation is clearly an import from the West. A herb which was staple to Indian lifestyle and culture for over 5000 years was banned suddenly owing to bogus claims of “yellow journalism”!