Government initiative to legalize Cannabis plantation gets support from one CSO
Source: IT News
Imphal, October 15 2019:
Chief Minister N Biren Singh first mooted legalization to the plantation of cannabis (locally known as Ganja) on September 1 after he come across the medicinal importance of the plant.
The matter was discussed during state cabinet meeting held on September 27 but without arriving at any conclusion invited opinion from the people of the state.
Many civil body particularly anti drug organization 'Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol' criticized government plan terming it as anti thesis to the 'War on drugs' which was
initiated by the Government itself.
The matter on whether the Cannabis plantation should be legalized or not did not comes up in the form of debate in public domain for reason best known to thepeople.
It is now around 25 days that the Chief Minister N.Biren Singh announced government planned to legalized plantation of Cannabis for medicinal purpose , and only one Civil Society from Imphal East comes up supporting the idea of the state government.
Co-Ordinating Body, Khurai � a body of local clubs, Meia Paibis and working class of Khurai area in Imphal East today said that government plant to legalise plantation of Cannabis is a good move.
In a statement, the body said that Ganja was never treated as intoxicants in the state of Manipur and that it was premature acceptance to the definition of the USA which categorized Cannabis as an intoxicant.
Justifying its support to the government's plan for legalization of Ganja (Cannabis) the co-ordinating body said that such step would reduce the plantation of Poppy plant and will be able to save
many youths from falling as a prey of the Heroine No 4 .
After Ganja plantation has been prohibited many had replaced it with Poppy plantation.
Earlier, not many people knew that the Manipur soil is also fit for Poppy crops.
As many started poppy plantation in the state the state of Manipur is today becoming the 2nd Golden Triangle, the statement added.
The statement further said that when civil bodies of the state prohibited Alcohol in the state Ganja (Cannabis) was not an alternative to the alcoholics.
The body said that
Ganja was never used as an intoxicant in the region.
The Co-ordinating body also said that, what people have to understand is that the government was planning to legalize plantation of Cannabis through proper channel.
It also said that when there were
cannabis plants growing in the state, it had not affected to the people of the state and that it will not affect in the future.
Chief Minister N.Biren had stated that his government is looking forward for legalization to the plantation of the Cannabis as the plant
has high medicinal values which cure many dangerous diseases .