MARIJUANA AND NEPAL- ‘GO GREEN’.

(Marijuana growing in Nepal foothills)

A year back, there are a protest rally with a tagline ‘GO GREEN’ with pictures and photos of Cannabis in the t-shirts of the protestors.

There were Hashish shops all over Freak Street in Ason, Kathmandu. Dates back to 1970s.

Prior to 1973, Cannabis was produced in many places in Nepal.

Nepal has used psychoactive cannabis for centuries, and as early as the 1700s Nepalese charas was recognized as the best available.

THE HIPPIE TRAIL

In the 1960s, the Hippie Trail began to route young Western adventurers through Nepal. The stable traditional cannabis economy was rocked by the influx of demand, and the heavy usage by visitors normalized and made trendy cannabis consumption locally. The increased demand and linkage to outside markets led to an increase in hashish production, and smuggling routes established through India and out to the wider world

(The medicinal plants)

PROHIBITION

In 1973, Nepal canceled the licenses of all cannabis shops, dealers, and farmers, under pressure from the United States and the international community. However, personal cultivation and use were unaffected, and cannabis commerce continued illicitly. The loss of $100,000 in government revenues caused disruption, and later in the 1970s attempts were made at crop substitution.

(A Nepali policeman trying to destroy Marijuana plants)
Today, it is only legal to smoke hashish during Maha Shivaratri.

The use of Cannabis has been frequently described in Vedas as FIVE of the major medicinal plants.

Even today, most of the youths in the country are fond of cannabis. Despite the medicinal herbs being made illegal, the use, and the 'self production'of the plant is still rampant.

(Marijuana in most places grows without even planting it)