Gandaki Province Governor Dilli Raj Bhatta has certified the bill regulating hemp farming for medicinal and industrial purposes. The bill has been enacted into law following its certification.
Earlier, Governor Bhatta had returned the bill to the Provincial Assembly on 8 Shrawan, citing inconsistencies with federal laws, along with a three-point message. The Provincial Assembly then passed the bill without any amendments on 15 Shrawan, sending it back to the Governor for certification.
According to Section 201, Subsection (4) of the Constitution, the Governor certified the bill on Monday. The bill was certified after it was passed for the second time without any amendments, as per Section 201, Subsection (3) of the Constitution.
The law will come into effect after its publication in the Provincial Gazette. The provincial government has expressed hope that the law will help modernize agriculture, create employment opportunities, and promote exports.
Regulations and Provisions
As per the law, only individuals, institutions, or cooperatives that meet the standards set by the government and obtain a permit will be allowed to cultivate hemp. The law does not permit the use of hemp for recreational purposes.
The entire process, from cultivation to processing, storage, transportation, sale, and export, will be regulated by the provincial government’s regulatory mechanism and permit system.
The law also requires that the relevant authorities be informed before production, storage, and sale, and that a local monitoring committee be established. It also prohibits the sale of hemp without a permit.
The law stipulates that the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in hemp plants should not exceed 0.3%. It also provides for a fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 500,000 for violating the law.
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