The Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is transferring forward with plans to manage farming for industrial and medicinal hashish, with guidelines for licensing anticipated quickly and a phased rollout deliberate, in response to the federal government.
Talking in Shimla following a state-sponsored workshop and product exhibition, Income, Horticulture and Tribal Improvement Minister Jagat Singh Negi stated the licensing course of will prioritize industrial hemp and marijuana rising strictly for medical makes use of.
“The federal government is dedicated to making a affluent, drug-free Himachal,” Negi stated. “Hashish grown for medical and industrial use isn’t for intoxication—it’s for therapeutic and business.”
Not the wild selection
Negi emphasised the distinction between wild-growing hashish—generally seen within the area—and the managed, low-THC hemp that shall be permitted below the state’s authorized framework. “There’s a false notion amongst folks that hashish is simply a narcotic substance. Hashish cultivation carried out for industrial or medicinal functions is totally free from narcotic substances,” he stated.
“Drug-free hashish can turn out to be a sustainable financial possibility for farmers, not a supply of dependancy,” Negi added.
Negi made the remarks after inaugurating a public seminar and product showcase on the Gaiety Theatre, the place entrepreneurs from Himachal and different states exhibited hemp-based meals, medicines, textiles, and cosmetics. The occasion highlighted the state’s ambition to help rural entrepreneurship whereas selling environmentally sustainable crops.
Coverage basis in place
In January 2025, the state cupboard authorised a pilot examine on hashish cultivation, collectively assigned to the Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Agriculture College in Palampur and Dr. YS Parmar College of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni. The analysis will assist determine appropriate strains, greatest practices, and financial pathways for the sector.
The state’s agriculture division, which is overseeing the hassle, is anticipated to ship a full report inside six months. The pilot was licensed following a 2024 decision within the Himachal Pradesh Meeting that amended the state’s narcotics guidelines to legalize hashish cultivation for industrial and medicinal makes use of.
Negi, who chaired the legislative committee behind the decision, stated the crew performed visits to all districts of the state and met with residents to clarify the plan. “We visited a number of states like Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir to review present hemp fashions and assess the authorized and financial frameworks,” he stated.
Farmers, contracts, safety
Underneath the state’s proposal, farmers shall be allowed to develop hemp both independently or by way of contract farming. Manufacturing of medical hashish shall be tightly regulated, with necessities for 24-hour CCTV surveillance and geo-tagging of licensed services to stop diversion into unlawful channels.
Normal working procedures will govern cultivation, transport, and processing, and all cultivation should adhere to India’s 0.3% THC threshold for industrial hemp.
“We count on farmers to get good returns per bigha from industrial hemp,” Negi stated. “It is going to open avenues in agriculture, well being, and inexperienced industries.”
The framework contains plans to create a state company to supervise hashish cultivation, set up seed banks in partnership with universities, and appeal to personal funding. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu earlier stated curiosity from corporations working in textiles, bio-composites, prescribed drugs, and eco-construction supplies is already rising.
Himachal’s various agro-climatic circumstances make it well-suited for high-value specialty crops. Hashish, in response to the state committee, presents not solely revenue potential but additionally environmental benefits: improved soil well being, decrease reliance on artificial inputs, and diminished carbon depth.
Challenges stay
Nonetheless, challenges stay. Entry to licensed seeds is restricted, and technical know-how in processing and product growth remains to be rising in India. Neighboring Uttarakhand, which pioneered industrial hemp legalization, has struggled with regulatory bottlenecks and weak market hyperlinks.
Negi acknowledged these obstacles however stated Himachal plans to “study from these missteps” by imposing robust oversight and partnering carefully with agricultural and horticultural analysis establishments.
