Nepals Supreme Court Orders Government to Regulate Cannabis Cultivation
The Supreme Court of Nepal has directed the government to establish regulations for controlled cannabis cultivation for various purposes.
Kathmandu, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : In a landmark decision, Nepal’s Supreme Court has instructed the government to create a regulatory framework for the controlled cultivation and production of cannabis. This ruling, issued on November 1, 2026, marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to cannabis, which has been illegal since the Narcotic Drugs (Control) Act was enacted in 1976.
The court’s order opens the door for legal cannabis cultivation for medicinal, scientific, agricultural, horticultural, and industrial purposes. Currently, the law imposes penalties, including imprisonment, for cannabis cultivation. The Supreme Court has mandated that the government establish necessary rules, standards, and procedures within three months to regulate cannabis farming and production.
Although the court’s ruling was announced on May 18, 2025, the full text was only recently made public due to delays caused by a fire at the Supreme Court during protests last September. The court noted that while the 1976 law prohibits cannabis, it also allows for regulated cultivation and production for specific purposes, which had not been realized due to the absence of necessary government regulations.
The Supreme Court emphasized the need for a robust regulatory system to oversee the licensing of cannabis cultivation, production, processing, storage, use, sale, distribution, export, and import for medicinal and industrial purposes. This system will also aim to curb illegal activities related to cannabis cultivation and distribution, which have persisted since the law’s implementation.
In recent years, discussions have intensified in Nepal regarding the legalization of cannabis cultivation for medicinal and scientific purposes. In March 2020, former member of the House of Representatives Sher Bahadur Tamang introduced a private bill advocating for the legalization of marijuana primarily for medicinal use and export. Although this bill did not pass, it proposed allowing licensed farmers to cultivate and sell cannabis.
On July 9 of this year, the Gandaki Province Assembly unanimously passed a bill to license cannabis cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. Historical records indicate that cannabis cultivation and sales were legal in Nepal until the early 1970s, when an influx of Western hippies increased demand for marijuana and hashish, leading to the establishment of a significant market.
Researchers suggest that the pressure from the U.S. “War on Drugs” campaign in the 1960s and 1970s influenced Nepal to criminalize cannabis cultivation and use. However, the landscape has changed dramatically. Many U.S. states now recognize cannabis for medicinal use, and some even allow recreational use. Similarly, numerous countries worldwide have legalized marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.
As Nepal prepares to implement these new regulations, it stands at a crossroads, potentially reshaping its agricultural landscape and aligning more closely with global trends in cannabis legalization.
