Home / Legal Explainers / Health & Environment / Public Health / Drugs & Narcotics / Cannabis

While growing cannabis still a crime as per the NDPS Act, some states like Uttar Pradesh allow the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal or research purposes.

Cannabis

Last updated on May 31, 2024

Trigger Warning: The following content contains information on drugs and narcotics which some readers may find disturbing. 

As per Indian law, possession and use of cannabis are illegal. However, from the cannabis plant only activities relating to the flowering part, aka Ganja/Weed, and the resin, aka Hashish, hash or charas, are illegal. 

Ganja/Weed

Ganja, also known as Weed, refers to merely the flowering part of the cannabis plant that becomes the fruit of the cannabis plant. The production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, inter-state import/export, and the use of Ganja is banned in India. The punishment for carrying out any of these activities is proportional to the quantity of Ganja involved and not the type of activity.

  • Small amount (up to 1 kg):  Jail time up to 1 year, and/or fine up to Rs. 10,000.
  • Between 1 kg and 20 kgs: Jail time up to 10 years, and fine up to Rs. 1 lakh.
  • Commercial amount (20 kg): jail time  between 10 years and 20 years, and fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. The Court may also impose fine exceeding Rs. 2 lakh by recording reasons in the judgment.1

Charas/Hash

Charas is the separated resin (crude or purified) obtained from the cannabis plant and also includes concentrated preparation and resin known as hashish oil or liquid hashish. The production, manufacture, possession, sale, purchase, transport, inter-state import/export, and the use of Charas is banned in India. The punishment for carrying out any of these activities is proportional to the quantity of Charas involved and not the type of activity. 

  • Small amount (up to 100 grams): jail time  up to one year, and/or fine up to Rs. 10,000.
  • 100 grams – 1 kg: jail time  up to ten years, and fine up to Rs. 1 lakh. 

Commercial amount (1 kg): jail time  between ten years and twenty years, and fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. The Court may also impose fine exceeding Rs. 2 lakhs by recording reasons in the judgment.1

  1. Section 20, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. [↩] [↩]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 4.7 / 5. Vote count: 3

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Please share your feedback about this post!

Sharing feedback will help us improve our content. Tell us how!

If you want to keep your feedback confidential, please mention it in your feedback. If you have a question, please ask us in the comments or Ask Nyaaya sections.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a question you want to ask our legal experts?

Ask Nyaaya

Related Resources

Powers of police and authorities – Search, Seize and Arrest

Police officers have wide powers to search and arrest people in drug-related crimes and in many cases, without a warrant.

Government’s efforts for controlling drug abuse

The Central government has different schemes and centres for prevention of drug abuse as well as for the rehabilitation of addicts.

Consuming Drugs

Consuming banned drugs and substances is illegal in India and the punishment for this includes jail time  and/or fine. 

Immunity for addicts volunteering for treatment

If a convict in a drug-related crime for a small quantity, volunteers to undergo treatment for de-addiction, s/he will not be prosecuted.

Diazepam

The sale, manufacture, production, consumption or possession of Diazepam is punishable by jail time up to 20 years or a fine of up to 2 lakh.

Amphetamine

The punishment for Amphetamine (psychotropic substances) related crimes is proportional to the quantity that you are caught with.