December 26: While many countries are making a lot of profit from the sale of marijuana, Nepal is losing a huge amount of money since marijuana farming is outlawed in the country.

Stakeholders say that marijuana cultivation has a huge potential in Nepal and the country can make a lot of income from the hemp plants. 
Nepal's hemp plants are number 1 in the world market.  Stakeholders claim that lifting the ban on their cultivation may contribute billions of rupees to the economy annually. Rajendra Malla, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce said that country is losing big income due to government’s ban on cannabis cultivation, which has commercial properties. 

Multiple studies show that Nepal can earn billion of rupees by legalizing the marijuana farming, according to experts. 
According to Malla, the whole plant, including the leaves, roots, bark and stems of marijuana is a good source of income. With it, expensive clothes can be manufactured with different types of techniques. According to various studies, more than 60 countries in the world have partially or fully legalized marijuana.

World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized marijuana as a plant with medicinal properties. Even the United Nations has confirmed that marijuana is not  drug and categorized it as the least harmful alternative which helps the young generation to get out of the habit of heroin, alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs.

Former Minster of Law Sher Bahadur Tamang has been advocating for the legalization of ganja cultivation, which has become the subject of many debates even in the parliament. Tamang argues that cannabis cultivation should not be banned in Nepal. 
Tamang has been calling to legalize the hemp plant in the Parliament. “Nepal has to lift the ban and expand marijuana’s market beyond the national border”, Tamang said. 

In 1961 AD, the United Nations Conference passed the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and banned marijuana as an effective drug. Nepal also signed the treaty in 1967 and made a law related to drug control and put marijuana in the list of prohibited drugs. Then, Western countries had banned the marijuana and Nepal had followed the suit. 

However, the countries that banned marijuana in the past have now lifted the ban and started making good incomes. In Nepal, marijuana legalization has been limited to discussion and debate. At the end of 2020, the UN recognized cannabis as a plant with medicinal properties and removed it from the list of harmful substances.

Earlier, following all-party discussion on lifting the marijuana ban, Home Ministry was supposed to formulate a  procedure to lift the ban.

However, the joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pradip Kumar Koirala said that the issue is still under discussion. “All sides are talking to lift the ban. However, as discussions are still underway, nothing concrete has been accomplished so far”, Koirala stated, adding “We shall come to the conclusion only after taking the views of all parties and stakeholders”. 

According to Malla, some companies from the US and European countries are willing to invest in the production of Nepal's marijuana. “If the ban is removed, cannabis cultivation will earn foreign currency, which will help reduce the  trade deficit”, Malla added.