Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering says the sale of cannabis cannot be legalised in the country. He was responding to a question about why the cabinet authorised a private company to grow marijuana for research purposes in Samtse. Jomotshangkha-Martshala MP Norbu Wangzom also asked if the cultivation of marijuana can be legalised as it was once a source of income for the people of Samdrup Jongkhar’s Jomotshangkha and Martshala.
“What is harmful about cannabis is its THC content. It is the THC content that intoxicates people. Across the globe, consumption of cannabis containing THC is only allowed in designated places and no countries have agreements to trade cannabis,” said the Prime Minister.
“If we say we want to legalise the sale of cannabis in the country, our main trading partner is India. We do not have an agreement to sell marijuana to India. We do not have the right to do so. Some Indian states are talking about it but so far as New Delhi is concerned, this is something they are strictly against. Even in Bhutan, the law prohibiting the sale of cannabis-related products has been enacted in 2015.”
The prime minister said permits were given for research purposes as per the Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Substance Abuse Act of Bhutan 2015.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Sherub Dorji
