Newmai News Network
Imphal | February 9
Legalisation of cannabis cultivation will help in controlling an ever increasing illegal cultivation of poppy in Manipur, resource persons participated in a seminar held in Imphal on Sunday opined.
The “One-day seminar on cannabis cultivation in Manipur, prospects and constraints organised by Permaculture Alliannce, Manipur (PAM) in collaboration with state AYUSH society, Manipur was held at the conference hall of Khuman Lampak Youth Hostel, Imphal. The seminar moderated by retired IAS officer RK Nimai was participated by member secretary of Manipur Medicinal Plant Board Dr A Guneshwor, senior principal scientist of ICAR (NEH region) Dr S Birkumar, department of Agronomy, CAU professor Dr L Nabachandra and post doctoral fellow of MU economic department Dr Bishanjit Loitangbam.
The resource persons, in their papers, deliberated on the merits and demerits of cannabis cultivation with reference to its medicinal values. Some resource persons opined that legalisation of cannabis cultivation will be more beneficial.
Some resource persons asserted that, apart from use as a recreational drug, it is also used in religious ceremonies and more recently has been used to treat variety of different illnesses from chronic pain to epilepsy.
They also deliberated on the growing use cannabis for medicinal purposes in some countries. However, some experts said more research is needed in the area of medicinal cannabis and its use in vulnerable population such as minors.
Initiating the seminar, additional SP of Narcotic and Affair of Border (NAB) of Manipur police, S Brinda opined about legalisation and allowing of cultivation of cannabis in mass scale to check increasing mass scale poppy cultivation in the state.
According to the police officer, poppy cultivation in the state is so rampant that it is in a position beyond controllable limit.
"Poppy cultivation not only produced opium which is used in the manufacturing of brown sugar but severe impact is being given to the environment", she said.
The police officer further talked on the effects of health hazardous chemicals being used in jungle cutting while preparing for cultivation of poppy in the hills.
She then compared with the losses and benefits of poppy cultivation and cannabis and opined that the benefits of cannabis cultivation are far better as the same is being used for medical purposes.
The seminar on prospects and constraints of cultivation of cannabis was held at the backdrop of a recent discussion on legalisation of cannabis cultivation in Manipur by the cabinet of N Biren-led BJP’s coalition government.
