BHARATA BHARATI

While the Ministry of Ayush has acknowledged the growing interest in cannabis and its potential in medicinal applications, the regulatory framework surrounding cannabis in India remains cautious. The government should make a beginning by including medical cannabis in the syllabus for all medical and allied health courses, apart from coming out with a crystal-clear policy in tune with global trends. – Dr G. Shreekumar Menon

Signalling a ceasefire after decades of the “War on Drugs“, started by President Richard Nixon in 1971, declaring drug abuse “public enemy number one” and shifting focus to law enforcement, interdiction, and strict prohibition, especially for cannabis, current President Donald Trump, on December 18, 2025, signed an executive order shifting marijuana, presently controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), to Schedule III of the CSA.

The Executive Order states, “Marijuana is currently controlled under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended to the Drug Enforcement Agency that marijuana be controlled under Schedule III of the CSA. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision. Schedule III drugs are classified as having a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a potential for moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence in the event of drug abuse.”

The recommendation from HHS included a determination that medical marijuana has a currently accepted medical use. That determination was based, in part, on a finding by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health that more than 30,000 licensed healthcare practitioners across 43 United States jurisdictions are authorised to recommend the medical use of marijuana for more than six million registered patients to treat at least 15 medical conditions. It was also based on a finding by the FDA of credible scientific support to substantiate the use of marijuana in the treatment of pain, anorexia related to certain medical conditions, and nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. The National Institute on Drug Abuse concurred with the FDA’s recommendation that marijuana be rescheduled from Schedule I to Schedule III of the CSA. In May 2024, the Department of Justice issued a proposed rule to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III. The proposed rule received nearly 43,000 public comments and is currently awaiting an administrative law hearing.

“It is the policy of my administration to increase medical marijuana and CBD research to better inform patients and doctors. It is critical to close the gap between current medical marijuana and CBD use and medical knowledge of risks and benefits, including for specific populations and conditions. The Attorney General shall take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III of the CSA in the most expeditious manner in accordance with Federal law, including 21 U.S.C. 811″.

The UN human rights chief has called on leaders and international stakeholders to radically rethink global drug policy, stating that the decades-long “War on Drugs” approach has “destroyed countless lives and damaged entire communities”. Speaking at the Dealing with Drugs II conference held in Warsaw in December 2024, High Commissioner Volker Türk highlighted the urgent need for a human rights-based approach to drug regulation, pointing to record numbers of drug-related deaths and increasing drug use disorders.

During the decades after the proclamation of the “War on Drugs”, medical science has progressed by leaps and bounds and, borrowing from Ayurvedic science, has started affirming that marijuana, or cannabis, has innumerable unstudied medical properties. Medicinal cannabis (or medical marijuana) means using cannabis plants or their compounds (cannabinoids like THC & CBD) to treat symptoms or diseases, prescribed by doctors for conditions like chronic pain, nausea, muscle spasms, or appetite loss, focusing on therapeutic effects rather than getting “high”. It involves herbal cannabis or extracts, differing from recreational use and aiming to improve health by targeting specific symptoms, though research on its full safety and effectiveness is ongoing.

The landscape of medical cannabis has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. The transition from prohibition to medical recognition is shaped by interactions among scientific advancements, public perception and regulatory frameworks for its legalisation. Medical cannabis has now been recognised as a potential treatment for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

The top countries producing cannabis for medical and/or scientific purposes are Canada, the UK and Israel. Germany is home to one of the largest medical cannabis markets outside North America but depends exclusively on imports. Currently, 50 countries worldwide allow the use of medicinal cannabis. Its recreational use has been legalised in several countries. Israel is home to one of the biggest centrally regulated medical marijuana markets in the world.

Israeli universities, especially Hebrew University (HU) and Ben-Gurion University (BGU), are global leaders in medical cannabis research. The Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research (MCCR) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is engaged in exploring cannabinoids, endocannabinoids, and medical cannabis across biology, chemistry, medicine, and technology.

On December 22, 2025, the news was that even the UAE has issued a Federal Decree permitting medical use of hemp. Hemp (Cannabis sativa), a plant of the family Cannabaceae, is cultivated for its bast fibre or edible seeds. Hemp is often confused with the cannabis plants that serve as sources of the drug marijuana and the drug preparation hashish. Although all three products—hemp, marijuana, and hashish—contain Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a compound that produces psychoactive effects in humans, the variety of cannabis cultivated for hemp has only small amounts of THC relative to that grown for the production of marijuana or hashish. Along with bamboo, hemp is among the fastest growing plants on Earth. This law not only establishes a new economic sector and supports sustainable economic development, but it also enables the use of hemp in several industries, including textiles, construction, and paper and packaging.

Where does India stand in the global race for harnessing the power of cannabis for medical purposes? The law in India distinguishes two types of cannabis products—Ganja and Hashish. Several Indian states have legalised the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, especially for conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, and anxiety. The legal framework for medical cannabis in India falls under the purview of the Ministry of AYUSH, which oversees traditional and alternative medicines, prominently Ayurveda.

The Cannabis Research Project of CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, is the first of its kind in India under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with a Canadian firm. RVD University and Rajasthan Vidyapeeth are setting new standards for cannabis education in India. But India is lagging behind other countries and universities. The government needs to liberalise the policy on medical cannabis, as it can emerge as a cheap alternative for people unable to afford expensive medicines required for cancer treatment.

In a statement presented on January 10, 2022, at the Delhi High Court, the Union government clarified that the use of cannabis is not entirely prohibited in the country, as the law permits its use for medical and scientific purposes. The affidavit, filed by the Director of Narcotics, under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, states, “There is no absolute ban on cannabis under the NDPS Act. It can be used for medical, scientific, and industrial purposes by obtaining the necessary permissions from the respective state governments.” The Centre further emphasised that state governments are empowered to license cannabis cultivation for industrial and scientific purposes.

While the Ministry of Ayush has acknowledged the growing interest in cannabis and its potential in medicinal applications, the regulatory framework surrounding cannabis in India remains cautious. The government should make a beginning by including medical cannabis in the syllabus for all medical and allied health courses, apart from coming out with a crystal-clear policy in tune with global trends.

In the words of Professor Yossi Tam, a leading researcher at the Hebrew University’s Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research, aiming to integrate cannabis into mainstream medicine for better patient outcomes: “The importance of medical cannabis education is undisputed. As cannabis is becoming legalised in an increasing number of countries, it is more important than ever for doctors to understand this drug, its myriad uses, and its benefits, as well as its current shortcomings.” – News18, 22 Decemeber 2025

› Dr. G. Shreekumar Menon is Former Director General, Multi-Disciplinary School of Economic Intelligence and the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics.

Filed under: india, USA | Tagged: cannabis, cannabis legalisation, ganja, indian narcotics law, medical marijuana | 1 Comment »