Cannabis and the Law

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Until a century ago, cannabis and its products were a legally and freely available in India. Presently it is an Illegal substance. This plant is indigenous to Himalayan region and its consumption has been common amongst hermits and mystics of the region since ancient times. Although it has been made illegal in many countries over the past century, it appears that it is less addictive than tobacco or alcohol and less likely to produce harm through improper use than alcohol. On the other hand when appropriate varieties of it are used properly this plant also has great medical benefits as well as meditative ones. Mystics have found it to be an aid in their meditative and spiritual pursuits.

With the declaring of this plant as illegal, it lost its respectability around the world and was looked down at as a harmful drug. However, a recent documentary on CNN and the findings of Dr. Sanjay Gupta has gone a long way in restoring the respectability of Cannabis. It has either been legalized or is in the process of being legalized once again in several parts of the world.

Whenever a law exists, vested interests may develop around its perpetuation. They are expected to argue strongly against the legalization of Cannabis, even though common sense suggests that as a substance cannabis needs less control than alcohol. One may question what such vested interests are? First it can be the modern drug industry that may be providing expensive drugs for something the Cannabis plant can provide far more cheaply and easily and it is something that can not be patented because of its traditional use. Next are the drug lords who make immense profits in trading of cannabis simply because it is illegal and some of them can influence the highest centers of power in our world. Once legal, it is an inexpensive herb.



The Cannabis plant being native to the Himalayas grows profusely in Nainital district. When this author wrote a novel with this district as the background he included an instance when a Himalayan mystic smokes this herb and offers a joint to a Canadian friend as well. This instance was included so as to make the portrayal of practices in the region realistic and true to life.  The latest cover photo of this book (front and back) accompanies this post. The cover image is a photo of a lake snapped a few years ago in Nainital district in the seven lakes region (Sattal). It is available at Amazon and most other online retail stores e.g. http://www.amazon.com/Nude-besides-Lake-A-Novel/dp/1463529392

In a separate blog ( http://someitemshave.blogspot.com ) this author has argued that as regards food and medicine natural products are far safer than chemical or unnatural ones. If a medicine or drug is extracted from a natural plant by unnatural processes such as very high pressures, temperatures, chemical reactions, distillation etc. it becomes unnatural and more capable of harm and side effects. Most Allopathic drugs fall in the latter category. There main advantage is in acute conditions where fast and immediate relief becomes necessary,  not otherwise in most cases in the opinion of this author. Thus wine produced naturally is safer than whiskey by distillation and even the natural products of the poppy plant are far safer than its chemically extracted drugs that are very dangerous. It is also possible to extract dangerous drugs from cannabis and if anything needs to be banned it is these unnatural extracts not the natural herbal forms of the drug. Instead effort should be spent in modern research and education for its proper use. It seems that vested interests have attempted to even ban research into this plant. Talk about an Ostrich's neck buried in the sand!

The fact is that if Marijuana production and sale is made legal, it will require less control than alcohol. Consumption of Marijuana is less addictive than alcohol it appear and appears to kill fewer persons every year. it also seems Alcohol consumption makes many aggressive and crime prone. A Toronto Mayor was recently threatening to commit murder under the influence. On the other hand Marijuana gets many off crime because of its meditative influence and it seems tends to make them compassionate and loving rather than cruel and aggressive. 


If made legal its cost will come down drastically even after heavy taxes that can be used for good works rather than to fuel crime and kickbacks.

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