Finance Ministry ready to facilitate regulated cannabis farming: Minister Wagle

Nepal's Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has signaled a potential shift in government policy, stating the Finance Ministry is prepared to facilitate regulated cannabis cultivation. Wagle made these remarks during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly, responding to a query about the government's stance on the plant.

"If the matter is studied and determined by relevant experts and is regulated in accordance with the law, the Ministry of Finance will be ready to facilitate it," Wagle told the assembly. He acknowledged that cannabis production and marketing involve not only economic potential but also controlled medicinal and narcotic uses, necessitating expert study and appropriate legislation.

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If the matter is studied and determined by relevant experts and is regulated in accordance with the law, the Ministry of Finance will be ready to facilitate it.

The discussion around legalizing cannabis in Nepal has gained momentum, driven by its potential economic advantages, medicinal applications, and the prospect of boosting farmers' incomes. Currently, cannabis cultivation is prohibited under Nepal's Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act. However, recent years have seen increasing calls for its legalization for medicinal and industrial purposes.

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Attempting to profit from the difficult situation of such a person is an absolutely unacceptable phenomenon in the social system.

National Assembly member Bishnukumari Sapkota highlighted the plant's utility in both traditional Ayurvedic and modern medicine, noting its potential for producing valuable medicines and its fiber for textiles. She also pointed out that while the law prohibits cultivation, it includes provisions for medicinal production, and that Gandaki Province has already introduced related legislation.

Wagle further noted that many Western and developed countries, which once pressured Nepal to criminalize cannabis, are now moving towards greater openness. He confirmed that while cannabis cultivation is not specifically in the current fiscal year's budget, the issue falls under the Home Ministry's jurisdiction. He committed to discussing the matter further with the Home Ministry to explore establishing a legal framework for regulated cultivation.

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Legalisation for medicinal purposes is reasonable. Western and developed countries, under whose pressure we criminalised it here decades ago, are now moving towards greater openness.