Cannabis, which has grown wild for years in Himachal Pradesh and once associated primarily with intoxication and illicit trade, will now be used to manufacture T-shirts, bags, ropes, footwear, paper, packaging materials, and eco-friendly construction materials.
The state had already enacted a legislation to legalise cannabis cultivation for industrial purposes. Given the steadily rising international demand for products made from hemp fibers, the government aims to develop this into a future-oriented industry. Seeds for this purpose will be made available to farmers through Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University and the University of Horticulture. Following the study, an unanimous decision was reached to permit cannabis cultivation within limited areas. The policy envisions a comprehensive economic model where hemp cultivation creates multiple employment opportunities. The fibrous plant can be processed into textiles, including clothing and traditional shawls, while its medicinal properties offer potential for pharmaceutical applications. The government plans to establish processing units and attract major companies to invest in the state. The policy mandates strict adherence to regulations. Farmers will receive guidance on permitted hemp varieties and their approved uses. The government is committed to promoting this alternative model at the grassroots level, ensuring rural communities understand both the process and potential benefits.
He noted that the prescribed fee is ₹ 500 per bigha for general cultivation and ₹ 1 lakh per bigha for medicinal cultivation.
Kullu MLA Sunder Singh Thakur said, “Having already permitted medicinal use, the Himachal Pradesh government has now paved the way for regulated, licence-based hemp cultivation for industrial purposes,” the MLA said. The MLA said, “Cannabis cultivation in the Kullu region would be undertaken for the textile industry, facilitating the production of fabrics, shawls, handicrafts, and handloom items. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has described this as a significant step towards transitioning from “wild weed” to “Himalayan gold”. The Kullu MLA said, “Cannabis cultivation would now also be legally permitted for medicinal purposes. “Following Uttarakhand and Assam, preparations are underway to establish Himachal as a major national hub for industrial hemp under the state government’s “green to gold” initiative. The Kullu MLA said, “An all-party committee, led by revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi, had toured the country and conducted a detailed legal study on the matter.
