Union minister Maneka Gandhi suggests legalising marijuana for medical purposes

Draft policy for drug demand reduction which seeks to address the problem of drug and substance abuse
The New Indian Express (India)
Sunday, July 30, 2017

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has suggested legalising marijuana, a psychoactive drug, in India for medical purposes on the lines of the practice adopted by some developed countries like the US to curb drug abuse. The suggestion was made by Gandhi at a meeting of a group of ministers (GOM), which examined the draft cabinet note National Drug Demand Reduction Policy, according to the minutes of the second meeting. Gandhi also stressed on the need for regulating the sale and availability of pharmaceutical drugs such as codeine cough syrups and inhalants among others which are being abused. (See also: The movement to make marijuana legal in India now has support from one of Narendra Modi’s ministers)