A provincial legislature in Nepal has unanimously approved a bill allowing the regulated cultivation of marijuana for medical and industrial purposes, marking a milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to revive a legal cannabis industry.
The measure, passed by the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, establishes a framework for licensing, regulating and overseeing marijuana cultivation within the province. While Nepal’s national government would still need to coordinate on implementation because federal law continues to prohibit most marijuana production, supporters say the legislation positions Gandaki to move quickly if broader reforms are enacted.
Under the proposal, growers seeking to cultivate marijuana commercially would be required to obtain government licenses, with separate rules for medical cannabis and industrial hemp production. The province would determine where cultivation is allowed, and licensed businesses would be subject to inspections and compliance requirements designed to prevent diversion into the illicit market.
The legislation also creates a new regulatory system responsible for issuing cultivation permits, monitoring licensed operations and enforcing the law. Provincial officials would oversee the program, while local committees would assist with compliance and implementation.
Industrial cannabis cultivated under the measure would be limited to plants containing no more than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. Crops intended for industrial use would also be required to undergo laboratory testing before entering the marketplace.
In addition to creating a legal pathway for cultivation, the bill recognizes hemp as a potential agricultural and commercial commodity that can be used in food products and other industrial applications. It also calls for the establishment of rehabilitation centers to address substance misuse and provide related medical services.
Nepal banned marijuana in the 1970s after years as one of the world’s best-known cannabis-producing nations. In recent years, however, lawmakers and government officials have increasingly pushed to revive the industry, citing the plant’s medical potential, economic opportunities and longstanding role in the country’s agricultural traditions.
Although the Gandaki legislation does not by itself legalize marijuana nationwide, it represents the most significant provincial action on cannabis reform in Nepal to date and could add momentum to broader efforts to modernize the country’s marijuana laws.
