The provincial government of Gandaki has legalized the cultivation and medical use of cannabis, challenging Nepal's federal drug laws. Prabin Poudyal, spokesman for the Gandaki Province Chief’s office, confirmed the bill took effect on Monday.
Under the new provincial rules, farmers must secure official permits and submit to close monitoring. This local legalization contrasts with the federal ban, under which personal possession carries a one-month jail sentence, and distribution leads to up to 10 years in prison depending on the seized amount.
Gandaki, home to the resort city of Pokhara and major Himalayan hiking trails, is the first province to take this step. Cannabis grows natively in Nepal and holds deep roots in its cultural and religious history. While outlawed in the late 1970s under international pressure, authorities still tolerate its use during the annual Shivaratri festival, where Hindu devotees consume it at temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Local activists have campaigned for years to reverse the national ban, and this provincial decision marks a major shift in the country's domestic drug policy.
