Gandhi’s plea to legalise soft drugs gains support

The MP had sought an amendment to the NDPS Act and pushed for a debate on the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill
The Tribune (India)
Thursday, August 30, 2018

MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi’s demand for legalising soft drugs, including poppy husk, opium and marijuana, is gaining ground. Earlier, the idea was endorsed by a few scholars, including economist Dr SS Johl and former Vice-Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Dr SS Gill. Three farmers’ organisations — BKU (Lakhowal), Khushal Kisan Welfare Society and Unnat Kissan Welfare Society — and some truck unions have held several public meetings in support of legalisation of these drugs. Dr Gandhi wants cultivation to be government-regulated. He said it could be started on village common land instead of farmers’ own land. (See also: Patiala MP urges farmers to disobey government to cultivate poppy)