Decriminalization of Cannabis
A Public Interest Litigation was filled in the Delhi High Court by an Non Governmental Organisation named ‘Great Legislation India Movement” challenging the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules 1985. The provisions of the above mentioned act prohibits and criminalizes the use of Cannabis or industrial hemp. The PIL was filled to challenge this prohibition and criminalization of the use of Cannabis and industrial hemp in India. The petitioner i.e the NGO is seemed to be working hard to create a movement against criminalizing the use of Cannabis. The organisation aims to spread awareness about the medicinal, industrial and ecological benefits that these plants can provide.
In the petition it is made clear that the intention of the organisation is not to completely deregulate the use of this plant but to allow the usage subject to some reasonable restrictions. The petitioner pleaded that this plant should not be equated with any other lethal drug because the comparison between two different things is arbitrary.
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The respondents presented a judgement of the Bombay High Court where a similar PIL was filled but the same was dismissed as the court was of the opinion that this matter can be best handled by the parliament. The matter was listed before a division bench consisting of Justice G. S. Sistani and Justice Jyoti Singh. The matter is listed for 29th of July 2019 and the petitioners are directed to implead the requisite party which is Department of Revenue and Finance.
