Professional Documents
Culture Documents
IN INDIA
By: Siddharth Garg, Raunak Rai Maini, Pragya Tandon, Daiwik Aggarwal
ABSTRACT
This project looks to analyse the complexity of the situation regarding marijuana,
taking into account different aspects such as historical references and cultural
practices involving the use of marijuana. It also sheds light on the medicinal
benefits and disadvantages. It further looks at the past experience with the
legalization in other areas, presents the arguments to be made for its legalization
from a public policy perspective, and finally considers the possible implications
of the implementation of such a policy in the Indian context.
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CONTENTS
1. Historical Justification…………………………………………….3
2. Medicinal Benefits…………………...……………………………8
3. Disadvantages of Marijuana…………………………...……...…14
4. Experience with Legalization of Marijuana………….………….19
5. Marijuana and Racial Discrimination……………………………21
6. Distinction between Marijuana Legalization and
Decriminalization………………………………………………..22
7. The Myths About Marijuana Legalization in India……………...23
8. Arguments for Legalization of Marijuana………………………..24
9. Implications of Marijuana Legalization in India…………………28
10. Policy Recommendations………………………………………..29
11. Conclusion……………………………………………………….30
12. Appendix………………..…..…………………………………...31
a. Mr Shiv Kumar’s interview……………………………...32
b. Ms Veigas and Ms Bhargava’s interview………………..33
c. Ms Sita Chatterjee’s interview…………………………..35
d. Mr R.K. Dhingra’s interview……………………...……..36
13. References………....................……..……...…..….…….............37
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HISTORICAL JUSTIFICATION
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by
the rulers as useful.”
- Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Religion is undoubtedly a tool in the political scenario
and the perception it holds in a persons’ mind is
bound to be influenced by his/her experiences. Even
though the Indian jurisprudence distances itself from
any particular religion, the political parties in power
have been known to disseminate their ideology by
ways of legislation or actions.
Another power held by religion is that of igniting
mass movements (mostly for political gains),
participants of whose are callously ready to justify
their actions in the name of their religion or
sometimes culture, even if they override law. The
babri masjid demolition, anti- Sikh riots, Gujarat
communal riots and the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri
pundit are scathing events which verify the above-
mentioned paragraph.
Proposed policies can be justified in various ways. The reference to the horrifying
events was added just to depict the impact of religion in our society and this will
research project will mainly talk about the links which marijuana shares with this
element (religion), underlying its usage in the past and the significance it gained
due to its bizarre properties.
RELIGIOUS MENTIONS
1) The atharva Veda talks about the medicinal properties of marijuana and
suggests its use for relieving anxiety.
2) Lord Shiva is closely associated with the use of marijuana and there are two
popular theories which establish this link. The first theory relates with
marijuana being offered to Shiva after he drank the poison which was obtained
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as a result of the Samudra manthan. Bhang essentially helped him to feel
relaxed and lowered his body heat.
The second theory talks about a fight which Shiva had with his family and this
let him to wander off in a field where he slept under a cannabis plant. In order
to relieve his hunger, he consumed that plant and felt intense relaxation.
3) Another theory
argues that
smoking weed
helped sadhus
stationed in the
Himalayas to
bear the
piercing winds
and reduce
their body metabolism, thus warding off hypothermia.
4) Researcher also believed that the use of drugs in Hinduism emerged in the
Shaivism period as opposed to the Vaishnava period. This assumption was
also defeated when relevance was placed upon the rituals in the jagannath
temple of puri where lord Balarama’s worship also involved the use of bhang.
5) The Indian hemp drugs commission instituted by the British in the late 1890’s
to examine the overdose of marijuana in India and suggest ways to tackle the
menace also concluded that suppressing the use of herbal cannabis (bhang)
would be totally unjustifiable as its use was very ancient, it had
some religious sanction among Hindus, and was harmless in moderation.
HOLI
It is one of the
most prominent
Hindu festivals
which usually
falls in march. It
is commonly
referred to as
the festival of
colours but a
closer look towards the
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practices associate with the festival bring to light certain socially accepted
practices which seem to gain fervour during Holi but are surely looked down upon
if done otherwise. While India remains a signatory to the 1961 UN Convention
on Narcotic Drugs which essentially bans cannabis, the substance has always
been part of the country's cultural heritage. Certain Hindu texts even deem
cannabis plant to be a sacred one. This clearly shows that marijuana has acquired
cultural significance, at least in the northern parts of the country. Holi
celebrations are popularized even in Bollywood as it is associated with the
consumption of bhang, which is a cannabis-infused milkshake and is openly sold
by government authorized shops. In this case the use of marijuana is totally
recreational and doesn’t include any medicinal/ spiritual benefits.
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Coming back to the paragraph we started
with, various events have taken place in
the history of our country which have
been justified or carried out in the name
of religion, indicating the presence of
religious misuse in our society. This was
again elaborated by citing various
festivals and historical records. This
essentially means that the legalization
debate can also be argued with a historical and religious backing. These
movements, motivated by religion and culture (especially when ignited against
certain laws) can turn detrimental and leave the government in an ineffectual
position wherein it has to succumb to demands in order to avoid a larger menace.
An apt example would be the jat agitations for reservation wherein thousands of
people came out on the streets of haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as
they related with a sense of community struggle. These events took such a
massive form that the army and paramilitary forces had to be deployed and the
government had to put a stop to it by pacifying the community. The jalli kattu
protest is also an example of such struggles.
The tripe talaq issue was also argued in India’s highest court on the basis of
historical evidences and quotes from hadiths and Quran. This again shows that
religious sanction can motivate and moreover inspire people to defy the law.
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MEDICINAL BENEFITS
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preventing and treating those ailments.” -Press Release by National Academy of
Sciences on The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids the Current State”
“There is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic
pain in adults.” Conclusion 4-1, Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
the Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research”
3. GLAUCOMA TREATMENT
One of the most common reasons that states allow medical marijuana use is to
treat and prevent the eye disease glaucoma, which increases pressure in the
eyeball, damaging the optic nerve and causing loss of vision.
Marijuana decreases the pressure inside the eye, according to the national eye
institute:
"Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered
intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with
glaucoma. In an effort to determine whether marijuana, or drugs derived from
marijuana, might be effective as a glaucoma treatment, the national eye institute
(NEI) supported research studies beginning in 1978. These studies demonstrated
that some derivatives of marijuana transiently lowered IOP when administered
orally, intravenously, or by smoking, but not when topically applied to the eye.”
-National Eye Institute
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Other very preliminary studies on aggressive brain tumours in mice or cell
cultures have shown that THC and CBD can slow or shrink tumours at the right
dose, which is a strong reason to do more research.
One 2014 study found that marijuana can significantly slow the growth of the
type of brain tumour associated with 80% of malignant brain cancer in people.
“In summary, these data add further support to the concept that cannabinoids
both alone and in combination with each other, possess anticancer properties.
We have reaffirmed the effects that CBD and THC have on central intracellular
signalling pathways responsible for maintaining cell growth and survival, and
have shown that using these two cannabinoids concomitantly resulted in mild
synergism, which was also able to enhance the cytotoxic effect of irradiation.
Astonishing results were observed in vivo, where the triple combination of CBD,
THC, and irradiation significantly inhibited tumour progression in an orthotopic
syngeneic model.” Discussion, The Combination of Cannabidiol and Δ9-
Tetrahydrocannabinol Enhances the Anticancer Effects of Radiation in An Orthotopic
Murine Glioma Model
“Scientists at the Scripps research institute have found that the active ingredient
in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, inhibits the formation of amyloid
plaque, the primary pathological marker for Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the
study said, THC is "a considerably superior inhibitor of [amyloid plaque]
aggregation" to several currently approved drugs for treating the disease.”
– Press Release 080906, Year 2006
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A synthetic mixture of CBD and THC seems to preserve memory in a mouse
model of Alzheimer’s disease. Another study suggested that a THC-based
prescription drug called dronabinol was able to reduce behavioural disturbances
in dementia patients.
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Other studies have found that plant-derived cannabinoids and inhaled marijuana
can decrease arthritis pain, according to the national academies report.
“These data suggest that CB2R may be a potential therapeutic target of RA.”-
Conclusion, Expression of Cannabinoid Receptor 2 And Its Inhibitory Effects on
Synovial Fibroblasts in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
9. CANNABIS SOOTHES TREMORS FOR PEOPLE WITH
PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
Research from Israel shows that smoking marijuana significantly reduces pain
and tremors and improves sleep for Parkinson’s disease patients. Particularly
impressive was the improved fine motor skills among patients. This research
which was done in 2014, was again verified by a second Israeli study in 2017.
“Mean (SD) total score on the motor unified Parkinson disease rating scale score
improved significantly from 33.1 (13.8) at baseline to 23.2 (10.5) after cannabis
consumption (t = 5.9; p < 0.001). Analysis of specific motor symptoms revealed
significant improvement after treatment in tremor (p < 0.001), rigidity (p =
0.004), and bradykinesia (p < 0.001).” – Conclusions, Cannabis (Medical
Marijuana) Treatment for Motor and Non-Motor Systems of Parkinson’s
Disease: An Open-Label Observational Study
“The results provided the first evidence for the involvement of ecs in the
neuroprotective action of minocycline on brain edema, neurological impairment,
diffuse axonal injury, and microglial activation, since all these effects were
prevented by the CB1 and CB2 receptor antagonists.”- Abstract, CB1 And CB2
Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists Prevent Minocycline-Induced
Neuroprotection Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice
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DISADVANTAGES OF MARIJUANA
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Lasting Impacts of Prenatal Cannabis Exposure and The Role of Endogenous
Cannabinoids in The Developing Brain
3. MENTAL ILLNESS
This is by far the most dangerous effect of marijuana among young smokers. The
consumption is mainly done to achieve a state of relaxation and pleasure.
However, it can lead to the development of psychiatric disorders or worsen the
mental stature of a person. With long term usage of the drug, psychosis can even
become acute and chronic. Some people have also shown to have developed
schizophrenic symptoms over years of marijuana usage, if they genetically
susceptible to the disease. Though marijuana gives a temporary state of happiness
upon usage, it can actually drive a person more towards depression with years of
usage. It reduces a person’s ability to cope with pain and confusion, thus driving
them to become moody and mentally fragile. Cannabis users have also been
observed to exhibit increased suicidal tendencies than general population.
“Daily use in young women was associated with an over fivefold increase in the
odds of reporting a state of depression and anxiety after adjustment for
intercurrent use of other substances (odds ratio 5.6, 95% confidence interval 2.6
to 12). Weekly or more frequent cannabis use in teenagers predicted an
approximately twofold increase in risk for later depression and anxiety.” -
Results, Cannabis Use and Mental Health in Young People: Cohort Study.
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•Daily cannabis use was indirectly related to SI via these factors.” -Highlights,
Cannabis Use and Suicidal Ideation: Test of The Utility of The Interpersonal-
Psychological Theory of Suicide
5. HEART DISEASE
Marijuana consumption increases the heart beat rate by manifold and reduces the
blood pressure. This increases the risks of a heart attack among marijuana
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smokers. Marijuana also can also cause blood to clot in the blood vessels of the
brain. It has been medically proved that the drug increases the risk of a stroke
among adolescents. The immediate effects can be felt by smokers in the form of
palpitation, often associated with breathlessness. Besides the psychological
effects of the drug are also linked with impact on the heart. The sense of panic
and anxiety also aggravates the heart condition, thus increasing the risks of heart
damage among regular marijuana smokers.
6. LUNG DISEASE
7. SOCIAL DISCONNECTION
Drug users are not generally held with high regard in the society. Be it tobacco or
marijuana or alcohol, any form of drug abuse deteriorates the life of the
individual, by crippling his social life. If loneliness or anxiety is the reason behind
one’s consumption of marijuana, it will do little to improve his life. Thus, the
effect is iterative and gradually engulfs the life of the addict, driving him crazy
or suicidal. People tend to become short-tempered and relationships die out. For
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adolescents, it poses a major threat, because it can make them underperformer
and underachiever in life.
8. ADDICTION
Though the withdrawal symptoms may not be as ugly as with other drugs,
continued use of marijuana can lead to addiction. Once a person gets habituated
to the feelings of pleasure that arise from smoking weed, it might actually become
very difficult to quit. As, pointed out earlier, it might even drive a person towards
the usage of other drugs to heightens the feelings. Marijuana, like all other drugs
affect the body and mind in a similar way, which actually makes it difficult to
quit. Just like it takes very less time for a cigarette smoker to go from novice to a
chain smoker, so is the case with marijuana, or even graver. Though marijuana
may be medically useful in some cases, usages in heavy and frequent doses,
ultimately leads to a chronic condition when it becomes a necessity for the person.
And definitely this form of addiction is dangerous and might even prove fatal.
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EXPERIENCE WITH LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA
There is more public support for marijuana law reform than ever before with new
polls showing more than half the country is in favor of legalizing marijuana. The
Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) believes marijuana should be removed from the
criminal justice system and regulated like alcohol and tobacco.
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MARIJUANA AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Is working to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol for adults in New
Jersey. New Jersey’s marijuana laws have had a disproportionate impact on
communities of color. Marijuana legalization in New Jersey must be fair and
equitable and must address past disproportionate harms to communities of color.
DPA has been advocating at the state legislature for passage of a constitutional
amendment allowing the possession, use, and sales of marijuana in New
Mexico. This will increase tax revenue, generate commerce and support the
agricultural economy.
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DISTINCTION BETWEEN MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION AND
DECRIMINALIZATION
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THE MYTHS OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IN INDIA
Although, cannabis is legal in certain states in India, like Orissa. You can walk
up to a government excise shop and buy your day's need. (told by Tathagata
Satpathy. Member of Parliament, Chief Whip of BJD, editor of Dharitri & Orissa
post. Ama)
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ARGUMENTS FOR LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA
In the past few decades, marijuana has been engineered to have much more
significant effects than earlier. Marijuana consists of two components: THC and
CBD. Out of the two, THC helps in further promulgating the severe effects of
marijuana while CBD helps in counteracting these effects. THC is also known to
cause psychosis, whereas CBD is widely being tested as an effective antidote
against anxiety and other psychological problems.
Studies have shown that the ratio of THC to CBD has drastically increased over
the past few years, making the marijuana available in the markets much stronger.
THC levels. Sample testing showed that THC levels have risen from around 4%
in the 1990s to nearly 10% in 2008, shifting the ratio of THC to CBD from 1:14
in 1995 to about 1:80 in 2014.
Hence the reasoning goes that if marijuana is legalized, there would be a higher
chance of marijuana induced psychosis among the general population. On its
merits the above argument seems intuitive and offers a good reason for preventing
the legalization of marijuana.
However, let us consider a similar case where a harmful substance was outlawed
by the government: the prohibition on alcohol in the united states in the 1920s
and 1930s. As a result of this prohibition, some individual citizens took it upon
themselves to produce alcohol illegally. Moreover, the quality of the alcohol now
produced was worse than that of the alcohol produced during the pre-prohibition
years. Alcohol consumption during the years of the prohibition, even with
stringent checks, was never eliminated from the American society.
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That is the case with many marijuana smokers today. They obtain their marijuana
from black markets, where the quality and THC content of marijuana goes
unregulated. The numbers clearly show that despite the illegalization of
marijuana, there still is a rampant consumption in society. Legalization of
marijuana would allow the government to exercise some control of this
completely unregulated market and to enact laws regarding the same. For
example, the government could stipulate a minimum THC to CBD content ratio
for the marijuana that is produced in order to alleviate the severe effects that the
drug poses.
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Drug Induced Deaths in Portugal
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help in the rehabilitation of these people, the number of consumers of drugs would
also decrease with time.
In Oregon marijuana was also legalized in 2014 and the effects have been quite
noticeable. Stores sold $250 million in cannabis products which resulted in $70
million in state tax revenue, markedly higher than a predicted $36 million in
revenue.
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IMPLICATIONS OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION IN INDIA
Marijuana can serve as a potential cash crop for the economically weaker section
of the farmers in India. The cannabis plant is something natural to India,
especially the northern hilly regions. It has the potential of becoming a cash crop
for poor marginal farmers. If proper research is done and cultivation of marijuana
encouraged at an official level, it can gradually become a source of income for
poor people with small landholdings. In states like himachalane Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu, where cannabis plants grow, marijuana is the only source of income
for many locals. However, being a banned substance, the farmers are forced to
sell it at a very cheap price to the drug dealers. With legalization, this can be sold
at higher prices in the regulated market.
Legalizing of marijuana will lead to a rise in the growth of GDP. Imposing tax on
selling of marijuana will anyway help in keeping a control over its production,
and it would be a help to the Indian economy. Such marijuana in Netherlands
contributes $3.2 billion with an annual gross.
Moreover, it will also lead to job creation in many parts of the country. In
Colorado, 10,000 new jobs were created with the legalization of marijuana.
Similarly, there could be a reduction in the unemployment rates and an increase
in per capita income of the country with the legalization of marijuana.
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POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
If the government choses to legalize marijuana in India, the following model can
be followed:
• Central government should fix an age for consumption of recreational
marijuana. Since the minimum drinking age in the country is currently 25,
that should perhaps be the standard for marijuana consumption as well.
• Only government licensed shops should be allowed to marijuana. Such
shops should be subject to regular checks on the quality of marijuana sold
in order to ensure harmful substances do not pervade the market.
• The government should stipulate a maximum THC to CBD content ratio
for the marijuana production. Highly stringent checks must be put into
place to ensure that quality standards are maintained.
• A proper framework regarding retribution and rehabilitation of those who
are found engaging in excessive drug use must be put in place. Policies
similar to those applied in Portugal can also be applicable in India.
• There should be a maximum limit on the amount of marijuana that can be
purchased by a person during the course of a month.
• Just like the packaging on cigarettes, the packaging for marijuana should
clearly warn the consumer about the possible harmful effects of use of
marijuana.
• Officials must carry out surprise checks at production centres to ensure that
marijuana produced is well within the safety range and does not contain
excessive levels of THC.
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CONCLUSION
We can conclude that the usage of marijuana in all sorts of historical and religious
texts is situational, medicinal or simply a compulsion to sustain oneself in harsh
weather or in the battle field. The modern times don’t present such situations but
drugs simply become a person’s last resort due to financial incentives, peer
pressure, dependency or just curiosity. This means that the legalization debate
can’t draw lessons or teachings from religious texts and sayings simply because
the intended purpose is totally neglected today and if any policy to legalize it is
deliberated, much more reliance
needs to be placed upon
medicinal benefits, its
disadvantages, economic and
social ramifications and a
thorough cost- benefit analysis is
required to deal with a potentially
sensitive issue. It has been
observed with accompanying
research that legalization may be
advantageous to India’s economy
since that money then comes under tax governance and becomes liable. It can
provide a boost to the country’s economy. As far as social ramifications are
concerned, it would lead to less drug induced deaths as seen in the case of
Portugal, can provide sustenance to economically weaker farmers in India.
However, claims that marijuana will lead to induced psychosis in the society and
is a gateway drug resulting in many deaths is also false. All in all. Legalization
of marijuana, under proper regulation can be extremely beneficial to society and
economy. This project also concludes that marijuana should be legalized and
what challenges shall we face and what models should be adopted for legalizing
marijuana.
The people who were interviewed during the course of this project all said
emphasised that regulation during legalization is necessary to prevent the
situation from spiralling downwards, and that rehabilitative approach is equally
important as the punitive approach to solve the problem. The interviewees have
differing views with regards to legalization and are all cautious of the challenges
that lie ahead.
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APPENDIX
To gather additional information from people who have encounters with drug
related cases and people who use drugs, we interviewed some people to gather
their respective opinions and to understand the opinion of the potential
legalization amongst different professions. The following people were
interviewed to understand the viewpoint on non-drug users encountering such
people:
1. Mr. Shiv Kumar (Head Constable, Delhi Police) (from here, referred to as
SK) (Mr. Kumar’s interview is written separately)
3. Ms. Vanita Bhargava (Partner, Khaitan and Co.) (from here, referred to as
VB)
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MR. SHIV KUMAR’S INTERVIEW
SK: Drug related crimes come under the Narcotics Department of the Delhi
Police. We are just involved in arresting the suspect and forwarding the
information to the Narcotics Department. Majority of crimes which occur in
North Delhi are actually committed by minors who are not in their consciousness
as they either drink alcohol or consume drugs. I think even alcohol should be
banned because almost all crimes related to domestic violence are committed in
a drunken state.
Q2. What symptoms/problems do drug abusers face when they are jailed?
SK: Sometimes the situation gets so intense that the police has to provide certain
drugs to the prisoner. But I think in this case it the doctor whose commands are
to be followed by us. Many people can’t even be at rest without it. But I think,
this confinement also acts as a rehabilitation center and removes their urge.
Q3. Certain countries have allowed the sale of drugs (which are banned in
India) via chemist shops. Do you think this will be viable in a country like
India?
SK: If we consider thekas in Delhi, they are allowed to sell liquor only between
10PM-12AM, but still we witness a large number of crimes due to liquor
influence. If we allow chemists to sell something like drugs then I think more
people will start consuming drugs instead of alcohol and we won’t be able to
regulate all these chemist shops.
Q4. Do you think the government has a vested interested in the sale of
intoxicated substances?
SK: Yes, I think government allows partial usage during festivities because they
collect a lot of tax on these substances. Some states have now banned alcohol but
it has essentially introduced a new crime i.e. the smuggling of liquor.
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MS. VEIGAS AND MS. BHARGAVA’S INTERVIEW
AV: Well, relevant to the culture in India, Marijuana or Drug Legalization for
that matter would not be very significant because of the Conservative culture. The
people who are consuming drugs will still consume them and hide pertaining to
the social norms of the country and those who don’t won’t do it either ways.
However, if it does get legalized it will have a great impact on the medical
benefits since those who need the drug won’t have to go through long and tedious
procedures. However, according to the Government’s stance Recreational Use of
Marijuana cannot contribute as a factor to legalization as the youth of the country,
with low income levels if they do come under the influence would find it difficult
to sustain themselves. Therefore, Marijuana Legalization should only be relevant
to an extent that it is contributing to Medical Factors solely.
VB: Yes, marijuana should be legalized since the quality and use can be
regulated. Also, the tax revenue that can be generated can be uses for public good
as was done in Texas in US where tax revenue generated on sale of marijuana
was used to provide scholarships to needy students.
Q2. Do you believe there is something wrong with the way our law treats
drug addicts by taking Punitive Measures against them?
AV: At my office we regularly deal with Drug Users who have been penalized
for even having drugs, while there was no sign of consumption in their blood.
There was one case in 2014, where we interacted with a minor carrying 20gm of
Narcotics. It was clear he was forced to. However, his lawyer could not prove
extortion or threat propelling him to do so. As a result, he was scrutinized and
sent to serve in the Minor Corrective Centre. These are the aspects where our
legal system fails to differentiate between those who are innocent and those who
consume drugs on a legal basis. The way those who have substantial evidence of
drugs being found in their blood call for straight detention and not Rehabilitation
in the initial stages.
VB: The punitive action is a deterrent for drug abuse but along with the same
rehabilitative approach has to be adopted by the authorities.
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Q3- Can the Legalization of Marijuana as done in the US can be done in
India. What will be the implications according to you?
AV: So, I mentioned about the culture which is very different from the USA,
where states like Oregon and Oklahoma have legalized Cannabis and other forms
of Narcotics. However, this is an economic centric move as the government just
wants to bring the drug under legal regulation and enjoy tax income. However,
they haven’t considered how it can impact the youth or anyone who might be
vulnerable to its consumption. I think the government of India has had a much
rational approach to the situation in the terms of consideration for the youth.
VB: The enforcement agencies in India are not equipped. There are also deep-
rooted corruption issues which can pose a challenge in regulating the use. As a
beginning, use can be restricted for use of hemp, a byproduct of marijuana to be
used in textile industry, paper industry etc. and not be used for recreation purpose.
Q4. How will it impact substance abuse among the younger generations?
VB: Even though legalization is a positive measure and will reduce substance
abuse but without proper and effective enforcement mechanism and without
awareness measures the positive impact of legalization on youth would not be
visible.
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MS. SITA CHATTERJEE’S INTERVIEW
Q1. How do you think Marijuana users would react to its legalization?
SC: Well, Initially I think all of them would be very happy since they would be
able to buy it legally. Half of the calls that we get are of pure guilt of the fact of
hiding the drugs from their families, police officers and other people who are
suspicious. However, half the people who reconsider to not use drugs are because
of the “risk factor” associated with it. When we will remove the risk factor we
are indirectly encouraging this lethal consumption.
Q2. You interact with a large number of drug users on a daily basis. What
do you think is the major factor why they take drugs?
SC: Of course, a majority of minors forced into drug consumption is due to "peer
pressure”. However, when it will be legalized it will obviously lose its cool factor
making it less appealing to them and thus positively influencing their minds about
this poison.
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MR R.K. DHINGRA’S INTERVIEW
Q2. Do you think there is something wrong in the way our law treats drug
addicts by taking punitive action against them?
RK: In a country like ours, stringent action needs to be taken so one cannot
blame the laws in our country. However, it would be ideal if it can be handled
with a little sensitivity at the micro level (family/friends/immediate social
circle).
Q4. How will it impact substance abuse among the younger generations?
RK: Unfortunately, this would just open the flood gates for substance abuse
amongst the younger generation. Our population is large and awareness levels
low. India may just land up becoming "Udta India”.
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