Nepal’s Gandaki province legalizes medical cannabis farming and use | Cannabis Law Report | Where to order Skittles Moonrock online
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The provincial government of Gandaki in Nepal has legalized farming and use of marijuana for medical use despite a national ban.
The bill went into effect Monday after it was endorsed by the chief of Gandaki province and allows the farming and medical use of cannabis, said Prabin Poudyal, spokesman for the office of the Chief of Gandaki Province.
Farmers will have to get official permission from the provincial authority and are to be closely monitored.
The provincial law comes despite a national ban on farming, possession and use of marijuana. Anyone possessing marijuana for personal use can be jailed for a month, while distribution and sales are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment depending on the amount seized.
Gandaki, one of the Himalayan country’s seven provinces, is home to popular mountains and hiking trails and the resort city of Pokhara.
https://apnews.com/article/nepal-cannabis-legalized-gandaki-7390b74d84f6c3ae764c97e3633c36bc
Key Framework & Provisions of the Bill
| Feature | Key Regulatory Requirement |
|---|---|
| Permitted Uses | Exclusively for medicinal, industrial, and scientific research. Personal and recreational use remains strictly illegal. |
| Licensing Eligibility | Limited strictly to Nepali citizens. Corporate entities or partnerships must hold at least 51% Nepali investment. Licenses are issued for a 5-year renewable term. |
| Infrastructure & Pre-approvals | Cultivators must fulfill infrastructure benchmarks, grow only within government-designated zones, and present formal purchase agreements with pharmaceutical or manufacturing buyers before planting. |
| Governance Body | Establishes a provincial Cannabis Regulation Board to oversee licensing, pricing, compliance, and enforcement. |
| Monitoring & Security | Mandates a three-tier supervisory system, continuous CCTV monitoring, and mandatory Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) testing to manage psychoactive limits. |
| Harvest Protocol | Harvesting and transportation require physical government supervision. Narcotic-capable crop components not used for industrial/medical purposes must be destroyed under official oversight. |
| Marketing Bans | Explicitly bans any advertising of psychoactive cannabis products, though marketing for non-psychoactive hemp-based industrial goods is permitted. |
| Penalties & Safety | Unauthorized cultivation or structural violations carry up to 3 years in prison. The provincial government is also legally required to set up rehabilitation facilities to mitigate local substance abuse risks. |
Legislative History
The enactment of this bill followed a strict constitutional process after facing structural pushback:[[1, 2]
- The First Pass & Rejection: The Gandaki Provincial Assembly initially passed the bill in July 2026. However, on July 24, 2026 (Shrawan 8), Provincial Chief Dilliraj Bhatt returned the bill without signing it. He argued that it directly conflicted with federal law, specifically the Narcotics Control Act of 1976, which labels cannabis a forbidden narcotic. [[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
- The Unanimous Overrule: On July 31, 2026 (Shrawan 15), the Provincial Assembly invoked provincial sovereignty under Article 304 of the Constitution. Lawmakers unanimously re-passed the bill in its identical form without a single amendment. [[1, 2, 3]
- Mandatory Authentication: Under Article 201(4) of Nepal’s Constitution, if an assembly passes a returned bill a second time, the Provincial Chief is legally obligated to certify it within 15 days. Adhering to parliamentary supremacy, Chief Bhatt officially signed it into law on August 3, 2026. [[1, 2, 3]
📋 Key Provisions of the Law
The new law establishes a highly regulated, high-security ecosystem for high-value agriculture:[[1, 2]
- Strict Purpose Restrictions: Cannabis cultivation is legally permitted only for medical, industrial, and academic research purposes. Recreational and personal consumption remains entirely prohibited. [[1, 2, 3]
- THC Thresholds: Cultivated plants intended for broad industrial processing must maintain a psychoactive THC level of less than 0.3 percent. [[1]
- Zoning & Licenses: Farming cannot occur freely. The provincial government will designate specific, restricted cultivation zones in the Provincial Gazette. Only licensed individual farmers, institutions, or cooperatives meeting rigorous infrastructure standards can participate. [[1, 2, 3]
- Ownership Mandate: Licenses are reserved for Nepali citizens. Any corporate joint-venture or partnership must maintain at least 51% Nepali investment. [[1]
- Pre-Harvest Commitments: Cultivators must secure binding purchase agreements with licensed pharmaceutical firms or industrial manufacturers before putting seeds in the ground. [[1, 2]
- State Supply Chain Control: The government will mandate strict oversight during harvesting and transportation. Any narcotic-capable components of the plant not utilized for medical manufacturing must be legally destroyed under official supervision. [[1, 2]
⚖️ Governance & Penalties
To manage implementation and eliminate black-market diversion, the province has created specific oversight frameworks:[[1, 2]
- Regulatory Governance: A newly formed Cannabis Regulation Board and a high-level Steering Committee will handle licensing, marketplace pricing, and cross-district enforcement.
- Heavy Penalties: Engaging in unauthorized cultivation, transport, or violating licensing parameters triggers strict criminal penalties, including up to 3 years in prison and financial fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000.
- Marketing Restrictions: Publicly advertising psychoactive cannabis is completely banned, though promotional campaigns for commercial hemp-based products are legally permitted. [[1, 2, 3]
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