The Chief Minister of Nepal's Gandaki province, Surendra Pandey, has announced plans to legalize cannabis and alcohol for domestic use. Speaking at the third Jaimini Festival at Kushmisera in Jaimini Municipality, Chief Minister Pandey highlighted the imminent passage of a bill to legalize these substances in the upcoming winter session.
He justified his approach by mentioning the agricultural problems posed by monkeys: “Nowadays, monkeys cause a lot of problems in agriculture, but we found that the cultivation of cannabis was not destroyed by monkeys and that it could be used as medicine. »
Acknowledging fears of potential misuse, he assured that regulations would be established to ensure that cannabis was only used as a raw material in medicine and industry.
The Chief Minister shed light on the finalization of a law relating to marking and legalization of domestic liquor. He stressed that domestic alcohol, often produced and consumed clandestinely, constitutes a source of income for women in these regions.
“We are preparing to finalize this matter in this session of the provincial assembly and move forward. We believe that solving this problem will make the economic sector of our province sustainable,” he added.
To mitigate potential negative effects, Pandey said legal frameworks would be strengthened to prevent abuse after the legalization of cannabis and domestic alcohol. He expressed reluctance to disrupt women's livelihoods in villages, assuring that the proposed text would strike a balance between economic development and responsible use.
Mr. Pandey also highlighted the provincial government's commitment to creating employment opportunities in villages through the exploitation of local manufacturing industries, partly to address rural-urban migration.
“We are concerned about how we can create an employment-friendly environment by establishing local production and agricultural industries in villages; if this is not possible, there is no way to stop migration from villages,” he stressed.
The Chief Minister's stance on the legalization of cannabis and domestic alcohol reflects a broader strategy to drive economic sustainability by recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by rural communities. As Gandaki province prepares for the winter session, the proposed legislation could usher in an economic policy shift aimed at balancing tradition, livelihood and responsible development.
